The hotels’ collective bargaining agreement with UNITE HERE is set to expire this month. If hotel workers don’t get the better benefits and higher wages they’re demanding, it’s estimated that more than 10,000 workers across the country could go on strike. This could be the largest hotel strike in American history.
UNITE HERE voted “overwhelmingly” for strikes in Baltimore, Boston, Honolulu, Greenwich, New Haven, Providence and San Francisco. Strike votes will also be held in Oakland, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle to decide whether strikes should be held there as well.
The hotels affected include Hilton and Hyatt properties as well as Marriott and Omni hotels.
“This is the first time in history that hotel workers in so many cities have voted to strike, which could affect the entire hotel industry simultaneously,” said Gwen Mills, international president of UNITE HERE.
“Hotel workers are preparing for huge, historic strikes because we don’t want hotels to become the next airline – where guests pay more and get less while workers get left behind,” Mills continued. “The hotel industry makes huge profits by throwing workers under the bus – with wages that don’t even cover the cost of living and staff cuts that have made working in hotels more painful than ever. Workers have had enough of hotels, and we’re ready to make them pay for it.”
The union says it won record contracts after rolling strikes at Los Angeles-area hotels and during a 47-day strike at Detroit casinos. As a last resort, it is prepared to use a nationwide strike to win higher wages, fair staffing and work distribution, and a reversal of Covid-era cuts.
Since the pandemic ended, hotels have struggled to return to full staffing levels. In the past, hotel workers received record wages and better benefits—but that doesn’t mean hotels are paying their employees wages that keep up with the increased cost of living.
The union reported that U.S. hotel staffing per occupied room was 13 percent lower than in 2019, even though hotel groups reported record revenues and growth.
If the strike does happen, what impact will it have on travelers? USA TODAY understands that while these hotels will remain open, normal operations will be impacted, such as limited or no room cleaning or limited food and beverage services. In addition, striking hotel workers could picket outside the hotels where they are employed.
The union is urging travelers to cancel their hotel reservations in the event of a strike and request a refund from the hotel.
Subscribe to the TravelPulse daily newsletter to receive the latest travel news, updates and offers.
