As negotiations come to a halt, about 2,500 hotel employees continued to go on strike on Thanksgiving.
The strike, which began on September 22, entered its 68th day on Thanksgiving. UNITE HERE Local 2 union employees have called for increased staffing, better pay, and guaranteed benefits. Employees of Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt hotels are on strike.
According to Jose Leon, a 32-year veteran of the Grant Hyatt, “we are fighting for something so basic like our wages, our health insurance, and our pensions,” on Thursday. “This suffering makes us value what we have and what we deserve.”
After 16 years of employment at the Grand Hyatt in Union Square, San Francisco, Sergio Hernandez claimed he and his family have struggled to keep up with the Bay Area’s rising cost of living.
“Health insurance is very important for us and our families, especially here in San Francisco,” he stated.
Instead of seeking guaranteed salary increases, union workers, holding posters that read “Bet on SF,” are attempting to reach a deal with the hotels by tying pay to future hotel profitability. According to the union, this contingency would only be approved if hotels “reverse COVID-era service cuts.”
According to 34-year Grand Hyatt employee Vi Trung, he has observed fewer colleagues managing more work with less resources.
Here, it isn’t up to our standards. Trung, who was outside the Grand Hyatt on Thursday, stated, “They reduced staffing.”
No one at Hyatt has contacted Leon, who is a member of a bargaining group that represents his Grand Hyatt coworkers.
“They have not gotten back to us. “Hopefully, they have something fair for us while we wait,” Leon remarked.The company’s head of labor relations told CBS News Bay Area that it has not received any communication from the union.
“We regret that UNITE HERE Local 2 is still on strike, but Hyatt is still prepared to engage in sincere negotiations. Since the start of the strike, UNITE HERE Local 2 has not been in touch with us to start negotiating again,” Michael D’Angelo said. “We’re excited to keep negotiating equitable contracts and honoring Hyatt employees’ achievements. We are still awaiting dates from UNITE HERE Local 2 to start substantive talks again.
Additionally, according to D’Angelo, the business has frequently “offered competitive wages, health care, and retirement benefits at the hotel.”
Marriott was contacted by CBS News Bay Area for comment, but they have not responded.
Amidst the impasse, striking union workers briefly paused to have a Thanksgiving feast.Workers in San Jose, with assistance from UNITE Here Local 19, put up tables and shared cake, fried rice, and pupusas.
The fact that we must eat lunch on the street is regrettable. Trung stated, “You should be at home with your family.” However, it also provides me with the chance to learn more about these individuals in this place. Thus, I feel fantastic.
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