Over the busy Labor Day weekend, at least 10,000 unionized front-desk workers, housekeepers and other employees at dozens of hotel properties across the country walked off the job after failing to come to an agreement in contract negotiations.
The mostly two- and three-day strikes affected some Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Fairmont hotels in nine destinations, including Baltimore; Boston; Greenwich, Conn.; Honolulu; Kauai, Hawaii; San Diego; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; and Seattle.
With members of the UNITE HERE union at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni properties across the country still engaged in contentious talks over wages and working conditions, rolling strikes could possibly disrupt travel plans for months to come.
Hotels chains say they plan to keep affected properties open, perhaps with modified services. But they may not always notify travelers that a strike is happening, so inquire ahead of time, or you may be surprised to find a spirited picket line in front of your hotel when you arrive.
Here’s what else you need to know.
There’s a strike at the hotel where I have a reservation. What should I do?
First, call the hotel and ask to speak to a manager to confirm that a strike is taking place there. UNITE HERE has also created a website, FairHotel.org, that offers an updated map of which properties are experiencing labor disputes. Ask the manager which services are being affected by the strike, and ask about the hotel’s cancellation policy.
Then decide if you still want to stay at the hotel.
Besides weighing the effect on services, consider your feelings about the dispute itself, said Bjorn Hanson, an adjunct professor at the New York University Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. Some travelers like to support the business and keep their reservation at the property, Dr. Hanson said. Others prefer to support the striking workers by not crossing a picket line.
If you choose not to stay at the affected hotel, he said, you should first book new accommodations and then call your original hotel as soon as possible to cancel.
In the case of past strikes, Dr. Hanson said, “Individual hotels have some discretion, but the hotel company policy was: Whatever our cancellation policy is, is the policy we will maintain during the strike. So at the very least, that is what the regular, average traveler should keep in mind and plan around,” he said.
The cancellation policy at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni hotels generally depends on your specific rate and dates of your stay, so you’ll need to look up your reservation on their app or website.
Will my hotel stay open during the strike?
In general, hotels say they are prepared to operate without disruption.
Representatives for Hyatt, Hilton and Omni all said that they had contingency plans to minimize any strikes’ impact on hotel operations. Marriott did not respond to request for comment.
While the chains would not reveal details of those plans, they are likely to use nonunion employees, Dr. Hanson said. They might also, for example, substitute a grab-and-go buffet for table service. And outside contractors may be hired to perform services that hotel staff would typically perform.
During another recent major hotel strike, last summer in Los Angeles, thousands of hotel workers walked off the job just as travelers were gearing up for the Fourth of July. That first strike was resolved after three days. Sporadic walkouts at other properties throughout the summer affected housekeeping services for some guests and caused disruptions after event organizers canceled events.
What are the sticking points in the talks?
Hotel workers are calling for higher wages, as well as the reversal of Covid-era staffing and service cuts. Housekeepers at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, for example, are asking for a raise to $20 an hour from $16.20 now.
During the pandemic, the union said, many hotels cut staffing and guest services like daily housekeeping and room service, which caused some workers to lose income and also created a heavier workload for the remaining employees.
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