Around 10,000 hotel workers across the US have gone on strike in eight cities, including San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Boston, Seattle, and Greenwich, Connecticut, as reported by Reuters. The strike, organised by the Unite Here union, affects 25 hotels operated by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and Hyatt Hotels. Workers are demanding better wages, fair staffing, and a reversal of Covid-era cuts . The strike is expected to last two to three days, with more workers from other cities potentially joining the strike as the Labor Day holiday weekend progresses. This strike occurs as the industry anticipates a 9% increase in domestic travel over the Labor Day weekend compared to the previous year, based on data from AAA bookings. The Unite Here union has warned that strikes could begin at any moment in additional cities, including Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence, as disputes over wages and pandemic-related job cuts persist. Hotel workers are protesting against being overworked and undervalued, with management often expecting three employees to handle the workload of four, resulting in excessive stress and a focus on efficiency over quality service. As one staff member from Marriott's Palace Hotel in San Francisco put it, "Since Covid, they're expecting us to deliver five-star service with three-star staffing." The union is fighting for better working conditions, fair wages, and a reversal of job cuts implemented during the pandemic. Hotel housekeepers in Baltimore are demanding a $3.80 hourly wage hike to $20, while their counterparts in Boston, who currently earn $28 per hour, are seeking a $10 increase over four years. Hilton and Hyatt have pledged to negotiate a fair deal with the union, with Hyatt's labor relations head, Michael D'Angelo, assuring contingency plans to mitigate any strike's operational impact. Marriott is silent over the issue. This strike coincides with the expiration of contracts for 40,000 Unite Here hotel workers across 20 cities. Since May, negotiations for new four-year contracts have been underway, with 15,000 workers in 12 markets already approving strikes, according to Reuters. Unite Here President Gwen Mills declared, "We won't accept a 'new normal' where hotel companies profit by cutting their offerings to guests and neglecting their commitments to workers," emphasising the union's demand for a better deal. The union has urged travellers to cancel their hotel reservations if workers are on strike and to insist on penalty-free refunds. Earlier in 2023, Unite Here workers secured record contracts in Los Angeles following rolling strikes, and in Detroit after a 47-day strike. (with inputs from Reuters)
