News/Commentary

Hotel workers go on strike in 8 cities over the busy Labor Day weekend

September 2, 2024 | | Print Article

Approximately 10,000 hotel workers went on strike over the busy Labor Day weekend, according to the union that represents the employees.

UNITE HERE announced that Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott workers are striking over wages, COVID-era staffing, and service cuts.

“After months of unresolved negotiations, hotel workers with the UNITE HERE union walked off the job today at 24 hotels in eight cities: Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle,” the union said in a release. “Each city’s strike will last two or three days; Labor Day will see thousands of workers on strike. Strikes have also been authorized and could begin at any time in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence.”

“Workers are calling for higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts,” UNITE HERE added. “They say their wages aren’t enough to cover the cost of living, and many have to work two jobs to make ends meet.”

According to the union, “many hotels took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to cut staffing 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.”

“I have to work a second job because my job at the hotel is not enough to support my kids as a single mom,” Mary Taboniar, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu for six years, was quoted. “I’m living on the edge where I’m not sure if I’ll be able to pay our rent and groceries or provide my family with health care. It’s so stressful. One job should be enough.”

“I’m on strike because I don’t want hotels to become the next airline industry,” said Christian Carbajal, a market attendant who has worked for 15 years at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego. “I used to work in room service, but after COVID, they closed my department. Now I work in the grab-and-go market. Guests complain to me that they can no longer get a steak delivered up to the room, and the tips aren’t what they used to be. I’m making less than I used to, and now two families share my house because we can’t afford the rent anymore. The hotels should respect our work and our guests.”

UNITE HERE is urging guests “not to eat, sleep, or meet at any hotel that is on strike or where workers have been on strike until they secure a new contract.”

Tom Tillison
Latest posts by Tom Tillison (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles