Over 10,000 hotel workers are planning to strike this month, including housekeepers, servers, and front desk clerks, who are advocating for higher wages and fairer workloads. Travelers staying at hotels affected by the strike should anticipate a noticeably different experience.
More than 10,000 hotel workers are set to strike this month, potentially disrupting fall travel at some of the nation’s most popular hotels. Workers are demanding better pay and working conditions. As of Wednesday, over 50 hotels in major U.S. cities like San Francisco and Honolulu have already voted to strike. At Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaii’s largest resort, 94% of workers voted in favor of striking. Thousands more will decide whether to join the strikes, according to the hospitality labor union UNITE HERE.
The workers, including housekeepers, servers, and front desk clerks, are pushing for higher wages and fairer workloads after enduring increased burdens from the pandemic. “Since COVID, the hotels have rebounded, but wages have not caught up,” said Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE. “We need wages to catch up so one job can be enough.”
Hotel markets in most major U.S. cities have recovered as of last summer, with hotel prices increasing to match demand. However, workers have yet to see the benefits of this rebound. During the pandemic, hotels reduced staffing and guest services like daily housekeeping, forcing fewer employees to take on more work despite guest bookings picking back up. From 2019 to 2022, the number of workers per 100 occupied rooms in the U.S. hotel industry dropped by nearly 14%, according to the union.
“The workloads have gotten exhausting and overwhelming,” Mills said. Rachel Santos, a hostess at Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Waikiki and member of UNITE HERE, stated, “I am ready to strike for wages that allow me to take care of my family and proper staffing that allows me to take care of guests.”
The contracts between the union and hotels expire at the end of August, and union representatives have been locked in negotiations with the hotels, such as asking to hire more staff. If no progress in the bargaining process is made when the contract expires, workers can vote on authorizing a strike. However, it’s somewhat of a last resort. “We try to resolve as many issues before striking; we don’t want to strike, but we will,” Mills said.
A total of 66 U.S. hotels in cities like Boston, Providence, New Haven, Honolulu, Baltimore, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Seattle have contracts expiring by the end of the month. However, not every hotel will go on strike, depending on how negotiations proceed. The properties include brands like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Omni, with notable hotels such as Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza and San Francisco’s Palace Hotel.
In a statement, Michael D’Angelo, head of labor relations – Americas, Hyatt, said: “Our colleagues are the heart of our business, and Hyatt has a long history of cooperation with the unions that represent our employees, including UNITE HERE. We remain optimistic that mutually beneficial agreements can be reached without strikes, and we look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.”
Travelers can visit the labor union’s website to see if their hotel staff is at risk of striking. Travelers at strike-affected hotels should expect a significantly different experience, as nearly all departments will be impacted. Although technically, the hotel is still open, guests can expect a reduction in food and beverage services, unavailable hotel housekeeping, and general premises not being maintained. The union asks travelers to cancel reservations and seek refunds if their hotel is going on strike, using its website to find alternative “socially responsible union hotels” at their destination.
The hotel strikes are likely to continue well into the fall season, as the negotiation process can take time.
Source: usatoday.com