USA 
United Kingdom
Some 10,000 hotel employees and members of the Unite Here union launched a strike over Labor Day weekend after negotiations over new contracts with major hotel chains including Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and Hyatt Hotels stalled.
The action involves workers at 24 different hotels across cities including San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Boston, Seattle, and Greenwich, Connecticut. The union, which represents employees in various sectors including hotels, casinos, and airports throughout the US, indicated that more employees from other cities could join the strike.
The timing of the strike coincides with the traditional surge in domestic travel over the Labor Day holiday, with AAA reporting a nine per cent increase in bookings compared to the previous year. The uptick adds pressure to an industry already grappling with heightened demand and staffing challenges.
Unite Here said that the strike may extend to additional cities, including Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence, should negotiations remain stalled.
The dispute revolves around compensation and the reinstatement of jobs cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the union, hotel staff are being asked to do more with fewer resources, often being assigned the work of four people but with only three staff members available. This has led to increased stress and a decline in the quality of service.
The union highlighted these issues with a statement from a worker at Marriott’s Palace Hotel in San Francisco, who described the situation as management expecting "five-star service with three-star staffing" since the pandemic began.
In Baltimore, hotel workers are pushing for an increase in their hourly wage from $16.20 to $20. Meanwhile, in Boston workers who currently earn $28 an hour, are seeking a $10 raise over the next four years.
Both Hilton and Hyatt have expressed their willingness to continue negotiations to reach an equitable agreement. Hyatt's head of labor relations, Michael D'Angelo, emphasized that the company has contingency plans to ensure hotel operations continue smoothly despite the labor disruptions.
The current strike reflects broader tensions within the hospitality industry, as approximately 40,000 hotel workers represented by Unite Here face expiring contracts across 20 cities this year. Since May, the union has been in discussions with hotel companies to secure new four-year agreements. To date, around 15,000 workers have authorized strikes in 12 different regions.
Gwen Mills, President of Unite Here, condemned the hotel industry for trying to normalize reduced services and diminished worker rights in the post-pandemic landscape. She insisted that the union would not tolerate a scenario where hotels prioritize profit margins over their commitments to employees and guests. Mills urged potential hotel guests to cancel their bookings and demand refunds if strikes are taking place.
There have been a number of successful strikes by Unite Here members in recent years. In 2023, the union secured landmark contracts for hotel workers in Los Angeles following a series of rolling strikes and in Detroit after a prolonged 47-day walkout.
Both sides are bracing for protracted negotiations and potential disruptions to services at some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
