Washington: 2 September 2024 (TDI): More than 10,000 hotel workers across 24 hotels from Boston to the West Coast and Hawaii went on strike early Sunday, causing significant disruptions during the busy Labor Day weekend.
Despite the hotels remaining open, guests were facing reduced services due to a skeleton staff.
The workers, represented by the UNITE HERE union, were striking for improved pay and working conditions, including the restoration of daily room cleaning services, which were reduced during the pandemic.
UNITE HERE’s International President, Gwen Mills, criticized the hotel industry for prioritizing profits over worker and guest needs.
“During Covid, everyone suffered, but now the hotel industry is making record profits while workers and guests are left behind,” she said.
More than 10,000 US hotel workers strike on Labor Day weekend#LaborDayWeekend #HotelWorkers #Strike #UnitedStates pic.twitter.com/JP0EQxCTXu
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 2, 2024
Workers’ Issues
Workers highlighted issues such as rising living costs and the importance of health care benefits, emphasizing that current wages are insufficient to cover their expenses.
The strike affects major hotel chains, including Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, covering 23,000 rooms in cities such as Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, and Honolulu.
The union has warned that it may expand the strike to up to 65 hotels in 12 cities if demands are not met.
Hyatt and Hilton have expressed disappointment but remain committed to negotiations, aiming to resolve the disputes while continuing to serve customers.
Last year, a similar strike occurred during the Fourth of July weekend in Southern California, with rolling strikes following major tourist events.
With AAA predicting a 9% increase in domestic travel and record passenger screenings expected, the impact of the strike is particularly pronounced this Labor Day weekend.
