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Hotel labor strikes wind down in major US cities — but continue in San Francisco

Cameron Sperance
Cameron Sperance
Former senior hotels reporter
Cameron Sperance is the former senior hotels reporter at TPG. His expertise includes branding, travel data, destinations and loyalty programs.
Nov. 07, 2024
•
3 min read
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Oahu, Hawaii March 2021
Hotel labor strikes wind down in major US cities — but continue in San Francisco
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Editor's Note

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New labor contracts are arriving in many top U.S. travel destinations that have grappled with hotel worker strikes for close to two months.

Nearly 2,000 workers have reached a tentative deal for a new labor contract and ended a strike at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. The move comes as workers have struck new labor contract deals in cities like Boston and San Diego at hotels with brand ties to Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt.

Across the country, local Unite Here chapters representing hotel workers — including housekeepers, front desk agents, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, bellhops and door attendants — have been negotiating for higher wages, better working conditions and more employee protections. Many hotel labor contracts expired Aug. 31.

Related: Major US hospitality labor group calls for investigation into hotel loyalty programs

While signs point to momentum in favor of hotel workers, there are still strikes underway in the Bay Area. In San Francisco, indefinite hotel worker strikes are currently underway at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square, the San Francisco Marriott Union Square and the Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco — also affiliated with Marriott.

"Momentum is building as hotel workers across the U.S. fight for decent pay and fair workloads," Gwen Mills, international president of Unite Here, said in a statement. "Our recent settlements prove that jobs at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott can be genuinely good, family-sustaining jobs, and strikes will continue until workers in all our cities have won contracts that deliver on that promise."

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Spokespeople for major brands like Hilton and Hyatt previously told TPG that contingency plans are in place to minimize disruptions during a strike. But Unite Here warns guests that services will likely be suspended while hotels operate with skeleton staffing.

Picket lines will run outside the affected hotels for up to 24 hours each day, and hotels may suspend some services while operating with a limited staff. If you have an upcoming trip to one of the affected hotels, call ahead of your arrival at your hotel to see if strikes have an impact on operations.

Related reading:

Featured image by CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • 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.
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  • $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.