Hilton's largest hotel affected as US hotel strikes return to Hawaii
An ongoing hotel labor strike in the U.S. is once again underway in Hawaii, where roughly 2,000 workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort began an indefinite walk-off this week.
Thousands of hotel workers who are members of various Unite Here labor union chapters have gone on strike intermittently since Labor Day, amid a national dispute between hospitality workers and hotel owners. Since many hotel labor contracts expired Aug. 31, workers have been negotiating for higher wages, better working conditions and more employee protections.
Limited strikes previously took place over Labor Day weekend in several other cities, including Boston and San Francisco, but, for the most part, ended after several days of work stoppages. Employees at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront have been striking since the beginning of the month and say they will continue to strike until a new contract deal is struck.
Workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village were previously on a short-term strike over Labor Day but are now on indefinite strike like their counterparts at the Hilton in San Diego.
“I am on strike again and this time I am ready to stay on strike for as long as it takes to win. While hotel companies make record profits, I am a single mom that has to work three jobs in order to support my family and be able to survive here in Hawai‘i,” Aileen Bautista, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, said in a statement. “We’re committed to bargaining and settling a contract, but since coming back to work after our 3-day limited duration strike and meeting with our employers for another bargaining session, they just don’t get it."
More than 4,000 workers are now on indefinite strike at Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott properties in Honolulu, San Diego and San Francisco. In addition to the previously mentioned hotels in Honolulu and San Diego, indefinite strikes are also underway in the Bay Area at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square and the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square.
Those workers say they will remain on strike until they win new contracts, according to a Unite Here release. Hilton maintains there are contingency plans in place for strikes like the one underway at its affiliated properties in Honolulu, San Diego and San Francisco.
“Hilton makes every effort to maintain a cooperative and productive relationship with the unions that represent some of our Team Members, and we remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach fair and reasonable agreements that are beneficial to both our valued Team Members and to our hotels,” a Hilton spokesperson said, a position the company has maintained since the beginning of the strikes. “We are also fully committed to providing guests with our signature hospitality and our hotels have contingency plans in place to ensure operations continue to run as smoothly as possible.”
But Unite Here notes earlier strikes resulted in reduced housekeeping services, closed bars and restaurants, trash and linen pileups, and reduced pool hours at affected hotels. Hotel contingency plans sometimes mean shifting nonunionized workers from other departments into affected roles.
It’s something to keep in mind if you have an upcoming trip to the Hilton Hawaiian Village or any of the other affected hotels in the next weeks.
“Hotel workers are going to strike for as long as it takes to restore respect for our work and our guests,” Gwen Mills, international president of Unite Here, said in a statement. “The hotel industry is making record profits by cutting the hospitality experience for guests and leaving workers behind. But we know that these huge hotel corporations can afford wages that are enough to live on, workloads that don’t break workers’ bodies, and to reverse COVID-era cuts. We’re in a new stage of this fight, with thousands of hotel workers ready to stay on strike until we win what our families need.”
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.