Hotel workers went on strike on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. They gathered outside, chanting and beating drums while picketing, making their demands heard. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi)
During Labour Day weekend, more than 10,000 hotel workers in the U.S. staged strikes, demanding better wages, manageable workloads, and the reversal of COVID-related service cuts. Represented by the UNITE HERE union, the workers include housekeepers and other hotel staff from major cities like Honolulu, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, and San Jose. The strikes are aimed at large hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, and are expected to last between one to three days.
The most recent addition to the strike was at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, where 200 workers joined the movement. Nearly half of the striking workers, around 5,000, are located in Honolulu alone. In total, 15,000 workers have authorized strikes, with more cities potentially joining the action, including Oakland, New Haven, and Providence.
UNITE HERE President Gwen Mills emphasized that the strikes are part of a broader effort to ensure service workers, often women and people of colour, receive fair pay that aligns with more male-dominated industries. Mills highlighted that hospitality work has long been undervalued, and the union is pushing for better compensation to support workers and their families.
One of the main demands from unionized housekeepers is the reinstatement of automatic daily room cleaning at major hotels. Many hotels reduced services during the pandemic and have yet to restore them, leading to unmanageable workloads for the workers. They argue that the reduced services have resulted in fewer hours and lower incomes.
However, hotel representatives claim that guests are no longer requesting daily room cleaning and other services, which is why they haven't reinstated them. Michael D'Angelo, head of labor relations for Hyatt in the Americas, expressed disappointment over the strikes but assured that the hotel chain has contingency plans in place to minimize disruptions. He added that Hyatt remains open to negotiations and is committed to recognizing the contributions of its employees through fair contracts.
Both Marriott and Hilton have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the strikes. The labor action reflects growing tensions in the hospitality industry, as workers push back against post-pandemic service changes that have left them feeling overburdened and underpaid.
