Hotel Workers Ready to Strike for Respect

 

Workers at the Omni Hotel in New Haven and the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich have overwhelmingly authorized strikes.. The members of Local 217 Unite Here, including housekeepers, front desk agents, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders and bellmen, say after months of unsuccessful negotiations they’re tired of waiting for raises, better workloads, and protections.

At the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale all 93 workers voting, out of 120, authorized a strike. Their contract expired on March 31. A state-wide rally on August 18 will show solidarity as Yale students arrive for the new semester and parents who accompany them stay at the Omni.

“I’m voting yes to authorize a strike, because I work too hard to be disrespected by the Omni,” said Carla Vallati a room attendant. “This is the next four years of my life on the line. While our hotel has posted record profits, workers like me are making less and less in the face of inflation. It’s time for the Omni to share the profits and settle a fair contract that respects our work.”

Hyatt Regency workers gave management a poster with 102 workers photos and personal statements authorizing a strike before they took their vote. Their contract expires on August 31.

“I work so hard and don’t make enough to pay my bills on time,” said Rebeca Laroque, a room attendant at the Hyatt for 12 years, “I come home and don’t have the energy to play with my son. My oldest doesn’t have health care so I want to win the insurance to cover both of my kids. I’m ready to fight for my family!”

“The overwhelming strike votes demonstrate hotel workers’ strong resolve to get the respect they deserve,” said Josh Stanley, Secretary Treasurer of Local 217 Unite Here.

Workers across the nation are calling for the hotel industry to “Respect Our Work” and “Respect Our Guests” by raising wages, reversing staffing cuts that have led to painful working conditions, and protecting work.

The U.S. Hotel industry’s gross operating profit was 26.63% higher in 2022 than 2019. Many hotels have kept COVID-era service cuts in place, including understaffing, ending automatic daily housekeeping, removing food and beverage options.

The contracts of over 40,000 hotel workers are up for renegotiation this year in more than 20 cities. Last year, Unite Here members won record contracts after rolling strikes at Los Angeles hotels.