Hotel Workers Nationwide Strike Over Pay and Working Conditions
Thousands of hotel workers across the United States went on strike during the busy Labor Day weekend, with Baltimore hotel employees joining the labor action on Monday. Approximately 200 workers from Baltimore’s Hilton Inner Harbor hotel walked off the job, adding their voices to the growing number of striking hotel staff nationwide, according to a press release from Unite Here, the union representing hotel workers.
The strike, which now involves more than 10,000 workers across major U.S. cities, stems from months of unresolved negotiations over wage increases, staffing levels, and improved working conditions. Hotel workers in cities such as Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle have already joined the movement. The strike impacts 25 hotels operated by top chains, including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt.
Jerome Roberts, a dishwasher at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, explained the challenges that led him and his coworkers to strike. “I walked out today because we just cannot keep working paycheck to paycheck, not able to pay our bills,” Roberts shared in a statement issued by the union. “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.”
Workers Demand Higher Wages and Fair Staffing
The key demands of the hotel workers include higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of staffing cuts implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the union, many hotels have not restored pre-pandemic staffing levels, leaving employees overburdened and underpaid.
The union asserts that many hotel workers’ wages are no longer sufficient to cover the rising cost of living, forcing some employees to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet. For example, Concepción Marquez, a banquet server with 21 years of experience at Signia by Hilton San Jose and Marriott San Jose, shared her personal struggles. “I work four part-time jobs to survive,” Marquez said in a statement. “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 how hard things are for us, but they didn’t care. The hotel only respects power, so it’s time to show them our strength.”
Hotel Industry Profits vs. Worker Conditions
Despite these struggles, the hotel industry has seen record profits. In 2022, U.S. hotels earned over $100 billion in gross operating profit, with room rates hitting all-time highs. At the same time, staffing per occupied room was down 13% from 2019 to 2022, according to union data. This discrepancy between booming hotel revenues and deteriorating working conditions has fueled the ongoing strike.
The union claims that many hotels took advantage of the pandemic to cut staffing and guest services but have since failed to reinstate those services or rehire laid-off workers, leaving remaining staff with heavier workloads and reduced income.
Hotel Chains Respond
As the strike continues to spread, hotel chains have begun issuing responses. Hyatt expressed disappointment in the union’s decision to strike but remains open to negotiating fair contracts. “We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees,” said Michael D’Angelo, head of labor relations at Hyatt, in a statement to CNN.
For now, the hotel workers’ strike shows no signs of slowing down as more employees join the movement to demand fair wages, staffing levels, and working conditions. With the hotel industry experiencing record profits, workers hope their strike will push employers to recognize their demands and improve their quality of life.