Hotel Workers In Many American Cities Now On Strike, Can't Earn Decent Living
Some 10,000 hotel workers began on Sunday a Labor Day weekend strike after contract negotiations with hotel operators Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott broke down, the Unite Here union announced.
Hotel workers in more cities were expected in the coming days to join the strikes that affected some 24 hotels in eight cities on Sunday, as workers push for higher wages and against "COVID-era staffing and service cuts," per a union statement.
Cities affected by the strikes that are expected to last two or three days include: Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
"Strikes have also been authorized and could begin at any time in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence," per Unite Here.
Workers say their wages "aren't enough to cover the cost of living, and many have to work two jobs to make ends meet," according to Unite Here.
"I have to work a second job because my job at the hotel is not enough to support my kids as a single mom," said Mary Taboniar, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu for six years, in a statement carried by the union.
"I'm living on the edge where I'm not sure if I'll be able to pay our rent and groceries or provide my family with health care. It's so stressful. One job should be enough."
Elena Duran, a server at Marriott's Palace Hotel in San Francisco for 33 years, said since the pandemic began, "they're expecting us to give five-star service with three-star staff."
Over 40,000 hotel workers with the UNITE HERE union have contracts up for renegotiation this year in more than 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, and additional strike votes may be announced.
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