“10,000 US hotel workers strike over Labor Day weekend”

Some 10,000 hotel workers across the United States have gone on strike over a major holiday weekend to demand better pay and conditions.

Workers on Sunday walked off the job in eight cities, including Boston, Honolulu, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle, after the UNITE HERE union and the Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott hotel chains failed to reach a deal in contract negotiations.

Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE, said the union had called the strike ahead of Labor Day on Monday as hotels had not reversed cost-cutting measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic despite making “record profits.”

“Too many hotels still haven’t restored standard services that guests deserve, like automatic daily housekeeping and room service. Workers aren’t making enough to support their families,” Mills said in a statement…

The union said strikes had also been authorised in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence and could begin in those cities at any time.

Michael D’Angelo, head of US labour relations at Hyatt, said the chain had a “long history of cooperation” with unions and it was disappointed UNITE HERE had chosen to strike…

Hilton and Marriot did not immediately respond to requests for comment…