Hotel workers in Baltimore have joined a nationwide strike against major hotel chains during a peak travel holiday. Approximately 200 workers from the Hilton Inner Harbor in Baltimore walked off the job, joining over 10,000 other hotel workers across 25 cities in the US. Workers are demanding higher pay, better working conditions, and the restoration of pandemic-era cuts, such as daily room cleaning. They claim that while the hotel industry has recovered from the pandemic, worker salaries have not reflected this rebound, leading to financial struggles for many employees.
The union representing hotel workers, Unite Here, is leading the strike and has stated that the industry has become profitable while workers and guests are left behind. Guests at the affected hotels may experience disruptions in services as the strike has led to a skeleton staff unable to provide full services. The hotel chains facing striking workers include Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, with thousands of rooms affected in cities across the country. The union has threatened to expand the strike to include even more hotels in additional cities if demands are not met.
Spokespeople for Hilton and Hyatt have expressed their commitment to reaching deals with the union while continuing to serve customers during the strike. Hyatt, in particular, stated its disappointment with the union’s decision to strike and looks forward to negotiating fair contracts. Last year, a similar union strike occurred during the Fourth of July holiday weekend at hotels in Southern California, and workers later staged rolling strikes tied to major tourist events. The current strikes are set to last for three days before a potential return to work.
The union’s main grievances include the lack of fair wages, difficult working conditions, and the need for additional staff to assist with the workload. Workers like Jerome Roberts, a dishwasher at the Hilton Inner Harbor, stated that they are struggling to make ends meet and decided to strike to make their voices heard. Unite Here’s International President Gwen Mills emphasized that workers deserve fair compensation and adequate living wages, especially now that the hotel industry is thriving post-pandemic. The union is seeking to restore services that were cut during the pandemic and ensure that workers are able to support themselves and their families.
The impact of the strike extends beyond Baltimore, reaching cities such as Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. If the strike expands to include more hotels in additional cities, it could further disrupt hotel operations and impact travelers. While the hotels remain open during the strike, guests may face limitations in services due to the reduced staff. The outcome of the strike will depend on negotiations between the union and the hotel chains, with both sides aiming to reach a fair resolution that addresses the concerns of the workers while also ensuring the operations of the hotels.
