Hotel Workers Strike for Better Conditions

Hotel workers across the U.S. have gone on strike, with approximately 10,000 employees participating as they demand better pay and a return to pre-pandemic staffing levels. The strikes, affecting major chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Sheraton, began over the Labor Day weekend in cities including Boston, San Francisco, and Honolulu, where over 5,000 workers walked out alone. Unionized workers, represented by the UNITE HERE union, are pushing for the restoration of automatic daily room cleaning services, which they argue have been cut to reduce labor costs. The ongoing labor unrest highlights the challenges faced by low-wage workers, particularly women of color, who are struggling with increased workloads and declining incomes. As negotiations continue, at least 15,000 workers have authorized strikes if their demands are not met by major hotel chains. Hyatt has expressed disappointment over the strikes but remains open to negotiations.