Hotel Strikes in the USA: A Call for Fair Compensation and Better Working Conditions

In the United States, a wave of strikes has firmly gripped the hospitality industry. Numerous hotel employees, including those at Hilton properties near Seattle's airport, are vigorously highlighting their demands. A total of 4,375 employees nationwide have participated in the walkouts. This includes staff from renowned hotel chains like Hyatt and Marriott joining protests in major cities such as Honolulu, Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle. At the core of the issue are calls for higher wages and fair employment practices. A key concern is the rollback of pandemic-related cuts. With 374 workers already striking at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport and the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Centre, organizers from the union UNITE HERE expect the protests to continue into the early hours of October 19, 2024. In addition to demands for fair workloads and better staffing, the union advises travelers to avoid the affected hotels. Around-the-clock picket lines are restricting hotel operations, which have already led to significant disruptions for guests. They complain of missing room service, trash accumulation, and limited amenities. Some travelers are protesting and demanding refunds, as they were not informed about the strike when booking. Gwen Mills, President of UNITE HERE International, emphasizes that despite record profits, the hospitality industry does not show enough appreciation for its workers. The strike movements are set to continue until hotels like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott offer reasonable contracts that allow employees to recover from the burdens imposed by the pandemic. Since September 2024, strikes have shaped contract negotiations, drawing over 10,000 workers to the protest. As negotiations continue in other cities, it remains uncertain how long the strike movement must persist until the employees' demands are heard.