Over 10,000 Hotel Workers Announce Strike Votes in Cities Across U.S.
Momentum Builds for Possible Strikes in Multiple Cities as Contract Expirations Loom; Workers Demand that Hotels Raise Wages and Protect Against Cuts to Staffing and Guest Services
Widespread labor disputes are possible this summer after around 13,500 hotel workers in Boston, Honolulu, Providence, and San Francisco announced plans for strike authorization votes at brands including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Omni. Workers are demanding higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era staffing cuts.
“I sleep with pain, I wake up with pain, I go to work with pain,” said Jianci Liang, a housekeeper at the Hilton Park Plaza in Boston for seven years. “Since we returned to work after COVID, there are about 20 fewer Room Attendants on the regular schedule. Without the proper staffing, my job is getting harder and harder. When the rooms are sold out, we have to cover the work of the missing people. I have no choice but to work, because it’s hard to save money or set aside funds for an emergency.”
Strike votes will be held starting on August 6, and if workers vote to authorize strikes, they could begin any time after contracts expire. Contracts in some cities have already expired, while others expire in the coming weeks.
The strike vote announcements follow protests in ten cities in mid-July as contract negotiations drag on. Over 40,000 hotel workers with the UNITE HERE union have contracts up for renegotiation this year in more than 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, and additional strike votes may be announced. Last year, UNITE HERE members won record contracts after rolling strikes at Los Angeles hotels.
Workers are calling for the hotel industry to “Respect Our Work” and “Respect Our Guests” by raising wages, reversing staffing cuts that have led to painful working conditions, and agreeing to protect guest services and amenities. The U.S. hotel industry’s gross operating profit was 26.63% higher in 2022 than 2019, but hotel workers report heavy workloads, loss of hours, and jobs that aren’t enough to afford the cost of living. Many hotels nationwide have kept COVID-era service cuts in place, including understaffing, ending automatic daily housekeeping, removing food and beverage options, and more. In the U.S., hotel staffing per occupied room was down 13% from 2019 to 2022 and down 32% from 1995 to 2022.
“I’m voting yes to strike because by the time that I come home from work, I’m so exhausted from taking care of guests all day that I’m too exhausted to take care of my own family,” said Wendy Perez, a front desk agent at the Waikiki Beach Marriott for 36 years. “We need staffing that ensures fair workloads and quality service.”
“Momentum is building for strikes this year because workers are at a breaking point while the hotel industry is making record profits,” said UNITE HERE International President Gwen Mills. “Hotel companies took advantage of COVID to make severe cuts to staffing and guest services, and now workers say that their jobs are more painful than ever. Meanwhile, wages aren’t enough to cover the cost of living, and many workers have two or even three jobs. This is a fight about the future of the industry for guests and workers alike, and our members are putting the hotels on notice that they’re ready to strike for what their families need.”