Over 10,000 unionized hotel workers are currently participating in strikes at over 25 hotels across the US, demanding higher pay, fairer workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts.
The strikes, which began on Labor Day, have impacted over two dozen hotels. Unite Here, a workers' union, reported 15,000 workers have voted to authorize strikes, potentially spreading to other cities.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the hospitality sector, leading to job losses, reduced staffing, and increased workloads for hotel workers, with the industry facing a slower recovery compared to the overall US labor market.
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Yesenia Salas stands as hotel workers picket outside the Grand Hyatt hotel Monday
(Photo: AP/Benjamin Fanjoy)
UNITE HERE is seeking fair compensation, improved healthcare and pension benefits, and the reinstatement of daily room cleaning and other services that were reduced during the pandemic, which they claim have led to unmanageable workloads and reduced income for workers.
The hotel industry has seen significant profits in 2022, with over $100 billion in gross operating profit, but the union claims that the current wages do not cover living costs, leading many workers to hold multiple jobs.
Hotel workers argue that their wages have not kept up with the cost of living, and some hotels made service and staffing cuts permanent to reduce costs, leading to the strikes, which have previously resulted in record contracts in Los Angeles and Detroit.
The hotel industry has responded with contingency plans and negotiations, with Hyatt and Hilton expressing disappointment over the strikes but emphasizing their commitment to negotiating fair agreements with union representatives.
Hotels are grappling with staffing shortages, with a survey revealing that 76% of respondents are facing staffing shortages, including 13% who are severely understaffed, impacting their ability to operate, particularly in crucial areas like housekeeping.
Hyatt and Hilton have expressed disappointment over the strikes and have contingency plans in place.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: NBC News, The New York Times, Business Insider, CBS News, Time, Newsweek, Axios, Fast Company, The Washington Times, USA Today, CNN, Le Monde, CNBC, ABC News, Fox Business, The Epoch Times, The Hill, Hürriyet Daily News.