Hotel Workers’ Union UNITE HERE Calls on Hotels to Notify Guests of Ongoing Strikes
After Weeks of Strikes, Guests Say They Aren’t Being Notified of Raucous Picket Lines and Significant Service Disruptions
HONOLULU, October 10, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The hotel workers’ union UNITE HERE today called on hotels to notify guests if they are booked at a hotel where workers are on strike. Guests arriving at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels have reported that they were not notified of raucous picket lines or service disruptions. In one case, guests in swimsuits held a protest in the hotel lobby to demand refunds. Over 4,000 hotel workers are currently on strike in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco. Workers in all three cities say they will strike until they win new contracts, and some have been on strike for weeks.
Hotel chains often say they have contingency plans for strikes, but photos and videos from struck hotels suggest that hotels are not able to maintain operations with skeleton staffing. UNITE HERE has documented extensive service disruptions at struck hotels, including:
Long lines
Unavailable daily housekeeping
Piles of trash visible on hotel grounds
Towels and linens piled up in hotel hallways
Closed bars, restaurants, and coffee shops
Limited front desk services or luggage assistance
Reduced hours at swimming pool
"I was told there would be a contingency plan for a strike, but it doesn't seem that way. It's a mess," said Miro Stuke, who attended a conference at the struck Hilton Hawaiian Village. "The conference amenities, events, and talks have been greatly impacted by the strike. There's been technical issues, the hotel services are shut down, and the picket line can be heard from every part of the resort and conference center. We have had Wi-Fi issues, projector issues, and even got locked into one of the conference rooms. There's no clean sheets, towels or toiletries for the guests, and housekeeping is suspended, even though there's a sandy beach at this resort."
"Nobody wants to stay at a hotel where guests have to take out their own trash, restock their own sheets and towels, and deal with shuttered food and beverage outlets," said Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE. "Guests who have a reservation at a hotel that’s on strike deserve to be notified and given the choice to get a refund so they can rebook. Hotel workers love their jobs, and a key aspect of this fight is that we want hotels to reverse COVID-era cuts and restore the staffing and services needed to give great hospitality. That starts with being respectful to guests while strikes are ongoing."
The union urges guests not to eat, sleep, or meet at any hotel that is on strike. Guests are encouraged to consult the union’s travel guide and use its Labor Dispute Map at FairHotel.org, where they can search hotels by name or city to learn whether a hotel is on strike and find alternatives. Picket lines run outside struck hotels for up to 24 hours a day.
Strikes are ongoing in Boston, Honolulu, and San Francisco. Workers at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront yesterday concluded a 38-day strike, ratifying a new contract with wage increases and affordable health care. But the union cautions that strike issues are unresolved in most cities. Workers at the Sheraton Grand hotel in Sacramento went on a one-day strike yesterday, and additional strikes have been authorized and could begin in Baltimore, Boston, Honolulu, Kauai, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo County, and Seattle.
Workers are calling for higher wages, fair staffing and workloads, and the reversal of COVID-era cuts. They include housekeepers, front desk agents, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, bellhops, doormen, and more.
"Going on strike wasn’t an easy decision, because I love my job, and I want to make every guest feel special," said Aileen Bautista, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. "I’m on strike because I work three jobs to support my family, and if I win a good raise, I’ll be able to work less and spend more time with my family."
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Contacts
Ted Waechter 919-636-1124 twaechter@unitehere2.org