Strikes Authorized at SF Hotels

Hotel workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike at fifteen Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott properties in the San Francisco Bay Area. The strike vote covers nearly 4,000 housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, bellmen, and more at the following hotels:

In San Francisco and San Mateo (Local 2):

  • Grand Hyatt SFO
  • Grand Hyatt Union Square
  • Hilton Union Square
  • Hyatt Regency at Embarcadero
  • Hyatt Regency SFO
  • Marriott Marquis San Francisco
  • Marriott Union Square
  • Palace Hotel (Marriott Luxury Collection)
  • Parc 55 by Hilton
  • Westin St. Francis (Marriott)

In San Jose (Local 19):

  • DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose
  • Hilton San Jose
  • Hyatt Place San Jose/Downtown
  • Marriott San Jose
  • Signia by Hilton San Jose

Strike authorize votes are also planned for Friday, August 23, at two Local 2 hotels in the East Bay: the Hyatt House Emeryville and Marriott Oakland City Center. Hotels may not warn travelers about strikes, and the union has published a guide of travel tips to help hotel guests prepare for the possibility of widespread disruptions to hotel stays.

Workers say that after months of unsuccessful negotiations, they’re tired of waiting for raises, better workloads, and protections for work associated with providing guest services and amenities. The strike vote gives the union’s negotiating committee the authority to call a strike at any time.

“I’m ready to strike because I work in pain,” said Bill Fung, Housekeeping Attendant at Hilton Union Square for 34 years. “Before, there used to be three of us shampooing the carpets in the three different buildings, but now there’s only me. By the time I get to each room, there’s so much buildup, and I must work extra hard to remove it.  I come home and my body hurts and is sore. It shouldn’t be this way; the hotel should respect us!”

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UNITE HERE Local 2 is the hospitality workers’ union in the San Francisco Bay Area,  representing over 15,000 workers, at San Francisco International Airport, Oakland  International Airport, and hotels, restaurants, tech cafeterias, sports stadiums and more.