Thousands of hotel workers have extended their strike into a second day after contract negotiations between the UNITE HERE labor union and several major hotel chains failed. Around 15,000 workers, ranging from front desk clerks to laundry staff, are participating in the strike, demanding higher wages, improved workloads, and a restoration of pre-pandemic staffing levels at various Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Omni hotels.

During the strike, chanting slogans like "make them pay," the workers have emphasized their importance in keeping the hotels operational. Aissata Seck, a union member and banquet server at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza, stressed, "We are everything for the hotel to be a business today. We are the reason why the hotel is open 24/7."

The workers argue that they are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford to live in the cities where they welcome guests, despite claims from the hotels to the contrary. The pandemic severely impacted the hotel industry, resulting in staff cuts and reductions in guest services such as housekeeping and room service. While guest occupancy has rebounded, the union claims that staffing levels have not, placing a heavier workload on employees.

Afong Lam, a union member and room attendant at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, revealed that the hotels have cut shifts and positions, leaving workers overstretched. Lam, who now handles additional cleaning tasks that were previously assigned to housemen, expressed concern over the extra workload, saying, "If you work every day like this, then you will get exhausted all day, and then when you go home, you don't feel like doing anything."

The cost of housing in cities like San Francisco and Boston has also become an obstacle for the workers. Seck, for example, disclosed that her monthly rent has skyrocketed from $1,900 to $3,000 since the pandemic began. In order to supplement her income, she drives for Uber and provides hairstyling services on the side.

According to Gwen Mills, the international president of UNITE HERE, wages in the hotel industry have not kept pace with its rebound from the pandemic. The union is calling for wages to catch up so that one job can provide sufficient income. Contract negotiations between the union and the hotels remain ongoing.

In response to the strike, Michael D'Angelo, head of labor relations - Americas at Hyatt, emphasized that the company has a history of offering competitive wages and benefits. He stated, "We have offered competitive wages, health care, and retirement benefits at the hotels that are on strike at this time, and colleague benefits and wages remain unchanged as we negotiate a new agreement." The Hilton spokesperson also emphasized their commitment to negotiating fair agreements.

The strike, which began on Tuesday and is limited to up to three days, has affected over 65 hotels nationwide in cities such as Baltimore, Honolulu, San Diego, and Seattle. Future strikes are possible if substantial progress is not made in negotiations.

As the strike continues, both Hilton and Hyatt have implemented contingency plans to ensure that hotel operations remain functional. Meanwhile, UNITE HERE is directing guests to Fairhotel.org to find alternative accommodations not impacted by the strike.