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- More than 10,000 hotel workers are planning a strike this month.
- Workers, including chambermaids, waiters and receptionists, are pushing for higher wages and fairer workloads.
- Travelers in hotels affected by the strike must expect a significantly different experience.
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Over 10,000 hotel workers are planning a strike this month. The move could affect fall travel at some of the country’s most popular hotels as workers fight for better pay and working conditions.
As of Wednesday, more than 50 hotels across the U.S. in major cities such as San Francisco and Honolulu have already voted to strike. At the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaii’s largest resort, 94% of workers voted to strike. Over the course of the week, thousands more will decide whether to join the strike, according to hotel union UNITE HERE.
Workers, including housekeepers, waiters and front desk staff, are pushing for higher wages and fairer workloads after enduring increased stress caused by the pandemic.
“Since COVID, hotels have recovered, but wages have not caught up,” Gwen Mills, international president of UNITE HERE, told USA TODAY. “We need to catch up on wages so that one job can be enough.”
In most major US cities, hotel markets have recovered since last summer. Hotel prices have risen in line with demand. However, employees are not yet benefiting from the recovery.
During the pandemic, hotels reduced staffing levels and guest services, such as daily room cleaning, leaving fewer employees to take on more work even as guest bookings increased. From 2019 to 2022, the number of employees per 100 occupied rooms in the U.S. hotel industry fell by nearly 14%, according to the union.
“The workload has become exhausting and overwhelming,” Mills said.
How does housekeeping work in hotels? Find out what happens behind the scenes here.
“I am willing to strike for wages that allow me to provide for my family and for adequate staffing that allows me to take care of guests,” said Rachel Santos, hostess at Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Waikiki and a member of UNITE HERE. “I love my job and I love my family, so I will do whatever it takes to protect them both.”
Here’s what travelers need to know about the historic number of hotel strikes in August.
Why are hotel workers striking?
Contracts between the union and the hotels expire at the end of August, and union representatives are stuck in negotiations with the hotels, including hiring more staff. If no progress is made in the negotiation process after the contract expires, workers can vote on authorizing a strike, but this is more of a last resort.
“We are trying to solve as many problems as possible before we go on strike. We don’t want to go on strike, but we will,” Mills said.
According to the union, the current working conditions are untenable for hotel employees who are simply trying to earn a living.
“My job has always been painful, but now it’s even worse,” Consuelo Escorcia, who works as a lobby employee at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis and cleans public areas, said in a statement to USA TODAY. The hotel used to have six lobby employees, but since COVID, it’s down to two or three. “I’ve sacrificed so much for this job over the years. I’ve had four surgeries on my hand and shoulder. But in return, the hotel has only made my job more difficult.”
Which hotels are affected?
The contracts of a total of 66 US hotels in Boston, Providence, New Haven, Honolulu, Baltimore, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego and Seattle expire at the end of the month. However, this does not mean that all hotels will go on strike, depending on how negotiations progress. The hotels include the brands Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and Omni. The best known include the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa and the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Michael D’Angelo, Hyatt’s director of labor relations for the Americas, said:
Our colleagues are the heart of our company, and Hyatt has a long history of working with the unions that represent our employees, including UNITE HERE. We remain optimistic that mutually beneficial agreements can be reached without strikes, and we look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognizing the contributions of Hyatt employees.
Hilton, Marriott and Omni did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Travelers can check the union’s website to see if their hotel staff are at risk of a strike.
How will the strike affect my trip?
Travelers staying at hotels affected by the strike can expect a significantly different experience, as almost all departments will be affected. However, technically the hotel will still be open.
“You can expect a decrease in food and beverage (services), housekeeping will not be provided and general premises will not be maintained,” Mills said. “All the workers who do that work will instead stand outside and form a picket line.” Guests may also see them on strike. “There may be loud protests.”
According to D’Angelo, Hyatt hotels have “contingency plans” in place to minimize the impact of potential strikes on hotel operations.
The union is urging travelers to cancel their reservations and request a refund in the event of a strike at their hotel and to search its website for alternative “socially responsible union hotels” at their destination.
How long will the hotel strikes last?
Most likely well into the fall. The negotiation process can take a while.
