Union employees in major U.S. cities went on a three-day strike starting on Sunday, and more strikes could be coming if negotiations between the union and hotel companies remain at an impasse.
The strike by UNITE HERE union members began over the busy Labor Day weekend and affected 25 hotels in Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Baltimore, Seattle and Hawaii.
Strikes to Last ‘One to Three Days’
Strikers picketed outside prominent hotels like Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza, the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, and the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.
“Each city’s strike will last one to three days,” the union said in a media statement. “Strikes have also been authorized and could begin at any time in New Haven, Oakland and Providence.”
The union said the strike comes after “months of unresolved negotiations” with hotel companies over higher wages, staffing levels and workloads. UNITE HERE wants hoteliers to reverse COVID-era staffing and guest services cuts that the union says have remained in place despite record-high hotel room rates and industry gross operating profits that topped $100 billion in 2022.
The union contends that hotel staffing per occupied room declined 13 percent between 2019 and 2022.
UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation and airport industries. According to the union, about 10,000 workers are involved in the current strike.
In 2023, the union scored significant contract victories after leading strikes at Los Angeles area hotels and casinos in Detroit.
Ironically, the strike coincides with National Hotel Employee Day, which was Sept. 1, as well as Labor Day.
The union urged travelers not to cross picket lines or stay at hotels where workers were striking. News reports indicated that managers and contract workers were filling in for strikers at some hotels, but guests were experiencing check-in delays, lack of housekeeping and other service shortfalls.
