In a labor movement over the Labor Day weekend, around 10,000 US hotel workers across eight major US cities have initiated a multi-day strike following the breakdown of contract negotiations between hotel workers and some of the largest hotel chains including Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and Hyatt Hotels. The strike was organized by the Unite Here union.
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Approximately 10,000 US hotel workers initiated the strike on Sunday, September 1, 2024 targeting 24 hotels across eight cities including major travel destinations like San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Seattle and Honolulu.
Workers in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland and Providence have also authorized strikes, which could commence at any moment depending on the progress of negotiations.
The Unite Here union representing workers in hotels, casinos and airports across the US and Canada has been vocal about the need for better wages, the restoration of pre-pandemic services and fairer workloads.
A primary concern is the industry’s expectation for workers to maintain high standards of service with reduced staffing levels, a situation exacerbated by management’s decision to cut costs during the pandemic.
The union is advocating for wage increases across the board. For example, hotel housekeepers in Baltimore, currently earning $16.20 per hour are demanding a raise to $20 per hour.
In Boston, where the current wage is $28 per hour, workers are seeking a $10 increase over the next four years.
Mills highlighted the contrast between the financial recovery of the hotel industry post-pandemic and the struggles of hotel workers. “During Covid, everyone suffered, but now the hotel industry is making record profits while workers and guests are left behind,” she stated.
Mills also addressed that the lack of daily room cleaning has resulted in a 40% reduction in housekeeping jobs.
Aissata Seck, Banquet Food Server at Hilton Park Plaza, Boston: Seck, a long-time employee of 18 years, shared her personal struggle with rising living costs. Her rent has skyrocketed from $1,900 to $2,900 in just five years, yet her wages have stagnated leaving her to drive for Uber in addition to her hotel job just to cover basic expenses.
With a reduced workforce, the hotels have struggled to maintain normal operations. Guests are experiencing delays, limited services and overall lower quality of service during what is typically one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
The reduced staffing levels have affected housekeeping services, front desk operations and food and beverage services within the hotels.
The union, UNITE HERE, which represents more than 275,000 members across the US and Canada has indicated that the current three-day strike could be just the beginning.
There is a possibility of rolling strikes, similar to those staged last year in Southern California, where strikes were strategically timed to coincide with major tourist events.
The union has also warned that the strike could expand to include as many as 65 hotels in 12 cities adding locations in Baltimore, Providence, Oakland and New Haven.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hotels introduced cost-cutting measures such as reducing staffing levels and promoting optional daily room cleaning under the guise of environmental responsibility.
Workers argue that these measures have led to excessive workloads, as fewer staff members are now responsible for maintaining the same level of service leading to stress and physical strain.
The union has called for the reversal of these changes, demanding the reinstatement of automatic daily room cleaning and other standard services that were reduced or eliminated during the pandemic.
Hotel chains like Hilton and Hyatt have expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to strike but have addressed their willingness to continue negotiations in good faith.
Hyatt has implemented contingency plans to minimize the strike’s impact on hotel operations. The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) has also weighed in, highlighting that 80% of its member hotels are facing staffing shortages with housekeeping being the most critical area of need.
Despite increasing wages over the past six months, hotels are struggling to attract and retain workers.
The strike has brought to light the challenges faced by the hotel industry in terms of staffing and service levels. The industry has yet to fully recover from the pandemic with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the US hotel industry employs 196,000 fewer workers than it did in February 2019.
Housekeepers, who make up a huge portion of the hotel workforce are predominantly women of color, many of whom are immigrants.
The union argues that the undervaluation of hospitality work is linked to the demographic makeup of the workforce and it is pushing for compensation that reflects the demanding nature of the job.
Unite Here has been successful in securing wage hikes and improved working conditions in other regions such as Southern California, where repeated strikes led to a new contract with 34 hotels.
Under this contract housekeepers will earn $35 per hour by July 2027. The union is now striving to replicate these successes in other cities particularly in securing automatic daily room cleaning and preventing hotels from quietly encouraging guests to opt out of this service, which increases the workload for housekeepers.
The strike coincides with one of the busiest travel periods in the US, the Labor Day weekend, which typically sees a surge in domestic travel.
According to AAA, domestic travel bookings for this weekend have increased by 9% compared to last year with the Transportation Security Administration expecting a record 17 million travelers during this period.
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