Hotel strikes resurge in Boston, New Haven, and San Diego

A new wave of hotel strikes erupted in two major New England cities on Tuesday, while a strike at a Hilton-affiliated property in Southern California continues.

On Tuesday, hundreds of hotel workers in Boston and New Haven, Connecticut, went on strike amid a nationwide labor dispute between hospitality staff and hotel owners. Previous limited strikes occurred over Labor Day weekend in several cities, including Boston, but most concluded after a few days. Strikers at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront have been on the picket line since the start of the month, vowing to continue until a new contract is negotiated.

The striking workers are members of various chapters of the Unite Here labor union, including housekeepers, front desk staff, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, bellhops, and other hotel personnel. Across the nation, local Unite Here chapters representing hotel workers are pushing for higher wages, improved working conditions, and greater employee protections, as many labor contracts expired on August 31.

Workers at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel voted to strike on Monday and could leave their jobs at any moment, according to a Unite Here announcement. Additionally, strikes have been authorized and may occur in Baltimore; Greenwich, Connecticut; Honolulu; Kauai, Hawaii; Oakland, California; Providence; San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Seattle.

Current strikes are taking place at The Dagney, The Newbury Boston, Moxy Boston Downtown, and W Boston, with plans to last for three days. Meanwhile, a strike is also happening at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, but the duration of this strike has not been disclosed.

While representatives from major chains such as Hilton and Hyatt have stated that they have contingency plans to limit disruptions during a strike, Unite Here warns that guests may experience suspended services as hotels operate with minimal staffing.

Furthermore, the labor union introduced a "Hotel Disloyalty" website on Thursday, showcasing how Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt have diminished their loyalty programs since the pandemic. Unite Here highlights that these reductions in point value are part of broader operational cuts aimed at cost reduction within major hotel chains.