10,000 Hotel Workers Strike Across Major U.S. Cities

Approximately 10,000 hotel workers in the U.S. initiated a strike over Labor Day weekend across major cities like Boston, San Francisco, and Honolulu, demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and the restoration of daily room cleaning. The labor action, spearheaded by the UNITE HERE union, reflects widespread frustration among workers burdened with increased workloads and reduced hours following pandemic-related staffing cuts. Hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott have expressed a willingness to negotiate but are facing continued strikes as contract talks stall. Workers argue that they are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and are calling for wages that keep up with inflation and the reversal of service cuts. Union leaders emphasize that the hotel industry has rebounded post-pandemic, but employee wages have not kept pace. The strikes could expand to additional cities if an agreement is not reached soon.