Approximately 10,000 workers from 24 hotels have initiated strikes across eight cities in the US, coinciding with the Labor Day weekend.
The strike, involving workers from Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt properties, is scheduled to last two to three days in cities such as Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The strike, which follows months of unresolved negotiations, has also been authorised in additional cities such as Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence and could begin at any time.
The workers are represented by UNITE HERE, a labour union in the US and Canada.
They are advocating for increased wages, fair staffing levels, and workloads, as well as the reversal of staff reductions implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier this year, UNITE HERE launched a new series of digital ads targeting tourists and travellers across the US.
The ads feature hotel workers expressing “sick of saying sorry” to guests for staffing and service reductions.
Employees have voiced concerns that their current earnings are insufficient to meet the cost of living, with many resorting to multiple jobs to sustain themselves.
The union has highlighted that during the pandemic, hotels capitalised on the situation to reduce staffing and guest services, which have not been reinstated, leading to job and income losses for workers.
UNITE HERE International president Gwen Mills said: “Workers aren’t making enough to support their families. Many can no longer afford to live in the cities that they welcome guests to, and painful workloads are breaking their bodies.
“We won’t accept a ‘new normal’ where hotel companies profit by cutting their offerings to guests and abandoning their commitments to workers.”
UNITE HERE has advised guests to refrain from using hotels involved in strikes or where strikes have occurred until the workers secure new contracts.
The strikes may result in hotels suspending services while attempting to maintain operations with minimal staff.
Meanwhile, representatives from Hilton and Hyatt have communicated to CNN their commitment to negotiating with the union.
Despite the strikes, they intend to continue serving their customers during any work stoppages.
Hyatt labour relations head Michael D’Angelo said: “We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognise the contributions of Hyatt employees.”
