More than 2,000 San Francisco hotel workers went on the third and final day of their strike yesterday as they fight for better wages, health care and workloads.

Why it matters: The union, Unite Here, said "many hotels took advantage" of pandemic staffing cuts and guest services "that were never restored, causing workers to lose jobs and income — and creating painful working conditions for those who carry the increased workload."

State of play: The strike began Sunday after contract negotiations with hotel operators Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott broke down, according to the union.

What they're saying: "I'm on strike for a living wage," Oz Munguia, a dispatcher at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square for 23 years, said in a statement.

• "Before COVID, there were eight to 10 people in my shift, and now there are only four of us. If I'm working this hard with a heavier workload, I deserve to be able to afford my bills and groceries."

The other side: Michael D'Angelo, Hyatt's head of labor relations for the Americas, said in a statement that the hotel chain had plans in effect to minimize strike destruction and said the firm is "disappointed that Unite Here has chosen to strike while Hyatt remains willing to negotiate."

• A Hilton spokesperson said the hotel chain was "committed to negotiating in good faith to reach fair and reasonable agreements that are beneficial to both our valued team members and to our hotels."
• Representatives for the Marriott didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

What's next: Even though the strike ended yesterday, "the fight doesn't," Lizzy Tapia, president of Unite Here Local 2, told Axios San Francisco via email.

• "Anything can happen after today, and we're really out here sending the message that we're ready and strong, and we are committed to fighting for what we deserve."
• "The ball is in the hotel's court for how they'll respond. If they're ready to sign a fair contract, great. But if not, we're ready."

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🙏 49ers general manager John Lynch said yesterday rookie wide-receiver Ricky Pearsall is "doing remarkably well" after being shot in the chest during an attempted robbery over the weekend. (SF Examiner)

🎥 Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, entering its 21st season this month, plans to host a film crawl at various venues on Mission and 29th streets for the first time. (Mission Local)

🚒 Mayor London Breed yesterday appointed Sandy Tong as interim chief of the San Francisco Fire Department following the retirement of former fire chief Jeanine Nicholson. (SF Standard)

• Tong will be the department's first Chinese American leader.

A new program, details of which were shared first with Axios, will see sponsor Visa helping all members of BayFC to earn the maximum amount of appearance fee money available under the league's contract with players.

Why it matters: Despite an influx of attention and investment in their leagues, many women athletes are still struggling to make a decent living.

• "We've come a long way, and we got a long way to go," soccer legend and Bay FC co-owner Brandi Chastain told Axios, noting that many women soccer players need income beyond what their salary provides. "We still have women who need support."

Driving the news: Visa's deal will allow players to earn the maximum amount, should they wish, through social media appearances that can help the athletes elevate their personal brands.

What they're saying: Bay FC defender Emily Menges told Axios that what makes the Visa deal exciting "is it gives everybody on the team an opportunity to use their platform and make some extra money."

• "Some teams, you'll get the highest profile players, they're all over the social media," Menges said. "They're the ones who get the sponsorship deals. They're also the ones making the highest salaries. And so it kind of leaves everybody behind."

What's next: Visa and BayFC are working on a separate program that will help foster the professional women's soccer players of the future.

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While Burning Man, which just wrapped up over the weekend, is known for revelers clad in dust masks and dancers wearing desert rave gear, perhaps the most famous visitor each year is El Pulpo Magnifico.

Catch up quick: Created by artist Duane Flatmo and a team of artists working out of Flatmo's workshop in Eureka, California, El Pulpo is a 28-foot-tall flame-throwing octopus made out of recovered metal.

• Fitted out with gas lines and filled with 200 gallons of propane, the octopus roams the Burning Man playa on a retro-fitted truck, shooting fire that's synced up with the music playing onboard.

What they're saying: "People walk up to it and the minute we hit the big flames at full blast, you just see all these people scatter," Flatmo says. "They slowly come back in and then, right when they're not expecting it, you hit it again."

Behind the scenes: I went to Burning Man for the first time last year and saw El Pulpo in person. Everywhere it went, a pack of LED-lit cyclists chased after it.

• "As we're driving around the playa it's always nice to see, like, 100 bicycles following us," said Flatmo. "They're like moths to the flame."

What's next: Check out my video on Axios San Francisco's Instagram to see Flatmo DJing while flames shoot all around him!

• Be sure to follow us on Insta for more unique slices of life from the Bay Area.

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