In a powerful display of solidarity, hundreds of Hilton hotel workers at Seattle Airport hotels walked off the job on Saturday, demanding higher wages and the restoration of benefits cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Unite Here union, representing the striking workers, announced the strike, which is expected to last until the early hours of October 19th. This action comes as part of a wave of strikes by hotel workers across the U.S., including those in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco.
The union reports that a total of 4,375 hotel workers are currently on strike at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels in these cities. The workers, including housekeepers, front desk agents, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, and bellhops, are united in their call for better pay and working conditions. Gwen Mills, International President of the Unite Here union, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Hotel workers are tired of working long hours while barely getting by. Hotel corporations like Hilton can afford to raise wages.”
This strike follows months of contract negotiations that have failed to yield satisfactory results for the workers. The union highlights that recent contract agreements in other cities, including Greenwich, New Haven, Providence, and San Diego, have secured wage increases and affordable healthcare for hotel workers. However, the union acknowledges that strike issues remain unresolved in most cities.
The Unite Here union is urging travelers to avoid using hotels where workers are on strike, noting that services may be disrupted. This nationwide movement of hotel workers underscores the growing need for fair wages and improved working conditions for essential workers in the hospitality industry.
