10K Hotel Workers Strike On Labor Day
News Release
MARYLAND — Thousands of U.S. hotel workers were on strike this past Labor Day.
Approximately 200 hotel workers walked off the job in Baltimore earlier. After months of unresolved negotiations, over 10,000 hotel workers with the UNITE HERE union were on strike at 25 hotels in nine cities: Baltimore, Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle. Each city’s strike will last one to three days. Strikes have also been authorized and could begin at any time in New Haven, Oakland, and Providence.
“I walked out today because we just cannot keep working paycheck to paycheck, not able to pay our bills,” said Jerome Roberts, a dishwasher at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor. “Going on strike is hard, but not nearly as hard as trying to get by on what we are getting paid. We told the bosses in our negotiations how much we are struggling right now but they didn’t care. We are on strike to make them pay.”
“We wouldn’t have a day to rest, relax, and enjoy the fruits of the labor movement if our union predecessors hadn’t stood up to fight for them – but that fight’s not over,” said Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE. “This Labor Day, hotel workers across the U.S. are celebrating Labor Day by fighting for raises, fair workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era service and staffing cuts.”
“I work four part-time jobs to survive,” said Concepción Marquez, a banquet server at the Signia by Hilton San Jose and Marriott San Jose for 21 years. “Going on strike is a huge sacrifice, but it’s something I have to do for my family. Right now, we don’t have health insurance because my employers won’t give me hours. We told the bosses in our negotiations how hard things are for us right now, but they didn’t care. The hotel only respects power, so it’s time to show them our strength.”
Workers are calling for higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts. They say their wages aren’t enough to cover the cost of living, and many have to work two jobs to make ends meet. The union says that 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.
Room rates are at record highs, and the U.S. hotel industry made over $100 billion in gross operating profit in 2022. But hotel staffing per occupied room was down 13% from 2019 to 2022 as many hotels maintained COVID-era cuts, including understaffing, ending automatic daily housekeeping, and removing food and beverage options.
The union urges 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. Hotels may suspend services while trying to operate with skeleton staffing, and picket lines will run outside struck hotels for up to 24 hours a day. Guests are encouraged to consult the union’s travel guide and use its Labor Dispute Map, where they can search hotels by name or city to learn whether a hotel is on strike and find alternatives.
Last year, UNITE HERE members won record contracts after rolling strikes at Los Angeles hotels and a 47-day strike at Detroit casinos.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 3, 9,376 workers remained on strike in seven cities: Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. Strikes have concluded in Baltimore and Seattle.
