Strike Continues at Hilton Union Square, SF’s Biggest Hotel; Workers at Hilton’s Parc 55 Also Poised to Strike

San Francisco, Calif. – After nearly three months on strike, hotel workers with UNITE HERE Local 2 have voted unanimously to approve a new union contract at Hyatt hotels in San Francisco and conclude their strike at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. The union cautioned that the city’s hotel strikes are not over; approx. 650 workers remain on strike at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Workers at Hilton’s Parc 55 hotel voted in August to authorize a strike and could walk off the job at any time.

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The new four-year contract at Hyatt will cover approx. 600 workers, including 250 who had been on strike at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco. It is the same as was ratified by striking Marriott workers on Thursday. It preserves the current union health insurance plan, which covers workers and their families with quality affordable health care; provides strong wage increases throughout the life of the contract; and creates new protections against understaffing.

“Winning this contract is the biggest victory of my life,” said Sergio Hernández, a busser at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco for 16 years. “Securing affordable healthcare and having respect on the job were my main goals. Now I won’t have to worry about our healthcare being cut. Everything we won was because of the sacrifice we made to fight for our rights. Now, I’m going to the Hilton to walk with them on the picket line until they win.”

“We’re done with the Marriott. We’re done with the Hyatt. Now it’s time for Hilton to sign the contract before they lose more business. We will fight as long as it takes,” said Jacov Awoke, a doorman at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square for 35 years.

“Hilton’s problems are only going to get worse if they try to treat their workers as second-class citizens,” said Lizzy Tapia, President of UNITE HERE Local 2. “Hilton workers aren’t afraid to keep fighting if that’s what it takes to win, and we’re prepared to expand our strike to the Parc 55 if necessary. Hilton workers deserve the same standard as workers at Hyatt and Marriott.”

Over 10,000 hotel workers have gone on strike in eleven cities across the U.S. since Labor Day. The strike began on Sept. 22 and grew to include 2,500 hotel workers. The agreement with Hyatt was reached late Friday night and includes Hyatt workers at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Hotel Kabuki, and Hyatt Regency San Francisco at Embarcadero.

Approx. 650 workers remain on strike at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Today is Day 91 of the strike.

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UNITE HERE Local 2 is the hospitality workers’ union in San Francisco, San Mateo County, and the East and North Bay, representing over 15,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, tech cafeterias, sports stadiums, and at SFO and OAK.