Thousands of hotel workers across major U.S. cities continue to strike for better wages and working conditions, with the strike now affecting hotel guests as well. At the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, guests staged their own protest after two weeks of staff being on strike, chanting, “What do we want? Refunds!” while wearing swimsuits.
Guests expressed frustration not only over the lack of services but also over the fact that they were not informed about the strike in advance or offered refunds. The Hilton Hawaiian Village, which employs around 2,000 workers, has been impacted since the staff voted to strike on August 14, following the expiration of the contract between the UNITE HERE labor union and the hotel chain. Workers are demanding fairer pay and workloads, citing pandemic-related cuts that have left them struggling to make ends meet despite the hotel industry’s recovery.
One guest, Sylvia Clark, who stayed at the resort from September 30 to October 5, shared her disappointment with USA TODAY. She was informed about the strike only three days before her trip, and the notification came from Costco, not the hotel. Clark described her stay as frustrating, with basic amenities like towels and shampoo taking hours to be delivered. “We didn’t travel for five hours to listen to the chants,” she said, though she expressed sympathy for the striking workers.
In response, a spokesperson for the Hilton Hawaiian Village stated that guest comfort remains a top priority and that the hotel is addressing individual concerns. Guests were informed of service changes upon check-in, including no room service and limited housekeeping, with towels and toilet paper made available on each floor. However, images shared by guests showed piles of used towels and long lines at the front desk due to limited staffing.
Gwen Mills, international president of UNITE HERE, emphasized that guests should be notified of strikes in advance and given the option to rebook or receive refunds. She added that hotel workers love their jobs and want to see staffing and services restored to pre-pandemic levels to provide quality hospitality.
Clark, who booked her stay through a third-party vendor, was told she couldn’t receive a refund from the hotel. She believes Hilton should have informed her earlier so she could have made alternative arrangements. Now back home, she has only been refunded for parking and is still waiting for further compensation. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “I’m here on credit card, so I still have to go home and pay for this.”
This story has been updated with new information.
Source: usatoday.com