Hotel Workers Strike Across the U.S.

By Andrew Hay

(Reuters) – Dozens of U.S. hotels experienced disruptions during Monday’s busy Labor Day holiday as over 10,000 workers went on strike after contract negotiations stalled, according to employees and the Unite Here union.

Wearing red shirts and banging buckets, Unite Here members picketed outside Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels, and Marriott International locations from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Boston, Massachusetts, demanding higher pay.

This strike coincides with a 9% increase in domestic travel during the Labor Day weekend compared to last year, as reported by American Automobile Association booking data.

In calls made to hotels in Hawaii, Boston, and San Jose, California, front-desk staff indicated that services like restaurants and housekeeping were limited due to staff shortages on the strike’s second day.

“The hotel is open, but it’s very limited workers,” remarked an employee at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, who wished to remain anonymous due to press restrictions.

Hyatt’s head of labor relations, Michael D’Angelo, stated that the company has contingency plans in place to mitigate impacts on operations due to the strike.

Both Hilton and Hyatt affirmed their commitment to negotiating a fair agreement with the union, though Marriott did not respond to immediate inquiries.

According to Unite Here, workers are on strike at 25 hotels across nine U.S. cities, with the strike expected to last up to three days.

“Hotel workers across the U.S. are celebrating Labor Day by fighting for raises, fair workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era service and staffing cuts,” said Unite Here International President Gwen Mills.

Employees argue that their wages do not cover living costs, and staffing levels have not been restored following cuts made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unite Here members had previously achieved record contracts last year following rolling strikes in Los Angeles and a 47-day work stoppage at Detroit casinos, according to the union which represents hotel, casino, and airport workers in the U.S. and Canada.