10,000 US hotel workers strike over Labor Day weekend
Workers walk off the job in eight US cities over pandemic-era cost-cutting measures.
Around 10,000 hotel workers across the United States have gone on strike over the major holiday weekend, demanding improved pay and working conditions.
On Sunday, workers walked off the job in eight cities, including Boston, Honolulu, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle. This action followed failed contract negotiations between the UNITE HERE union and the Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotel chains.
Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE, explained that the strike was timed to coincide with Labor Day on Monday because hotels had not restored the cost-cutting measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite posting “record profits.”
“Too many hotels still haven’t reinstated standard services that guests deserve, such as automatic daily housekeeping and room service. Workers aren’t earning enough to support their families,” Mills said in a statement.
“Many can no longer afford to live in the cities where they serve guests, and their demanding workloads are taking a toll on their health. We won’t accept a ‘new normal’ where hotel companies increase profits by reducing services for guests and neglecting their workforce.”
The union also announced that strikes had been authorized in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence, with potential actions in those cities pending.
Michael D’Angelo, head of US labor relations at Hyatt, expressed disappointment that UNITE HERE had chosen to strike, highlighting the chain’s “long history of cooperation” with unions. “We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees. Hyatt hotels have contingency plans to minimize the impact on operations related to potential strike activity,” D’Angelo said in a statement.
Hilton and Marriott did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods in the US. The motoring organization AAA reported last month that bookings for Labor Day were up 9 percent compared to last year. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects a record 17 million travelers during the holiday period.
