Labor Day Breakfast in Boston Disrupted by Hotel Workers’ Strike
Labor Day in Boston started with a twist as hotel workers entered their second day on strike, disrupting the annual Labor Day breakfast. Nearly 900 workers from prominent hotels such as the Hilton Park Plaza, Hilton Logan Airport, Hilton-Hampton Inn Boston Seaport, and the Fairmont Copley Plaza took to the picket lines on Sunday. The strike aims to draw attention to the challenging working conditions faced by hotel employees, who struggle while hotel executives reap unprecedented profits.
The striking workers, members of the UNITE HERE Local 26 union, are demanding higher wages, an end to staffing and service cuts, and more manageable workloads. The negotiations for a new contract have been ongoing since April 11, with little progress made. Frustrated by the lack of action from the hotel executives, the workers decided to take to the streets and make their voices heard.
Alfredo Amado, a hotel dishwasher with 18 years of experience, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation. He explained that the company has not engaged in meaningful discussions or signed a new contract, leaving the workers with no choice but to strike. Amado’s sentiment reflects the frustration felt by many workers who face difficult working conditions and struggle to make ends meet.
The strike includes various hotel employees, such as room attendants, doormen, front desk agents, and dishwashers. These workers have been dealing with pandemic-era service and staffing cuts, which have resulted in job losses and increased workloads for those who remain. UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo highlighted the economic challenges faced by the workers, emphasizing that they cannot afford basic necessities like groceries and rent.
The Labor Day breakfast, traditionally held at the Park Plaza hotel, had to be relocated due to the strike. The Greater Boston Labor Council decided to stage the breakfast directly across from one of the hotels affected by the strike, in order to draw attention to the needs and stories of the hotel workers. The event will feature local leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Gov. Maura Healey, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
The strike in Boston is part of a larger national movement, with over 10,000 hotel staffers across the country currently on strike. This includes 24 hotels in the US, including the four hotels in Boston. The strikes are impacting major hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott in multiple cities, from Boston to Honolulu. The national arm of UNITE HERE has threatened to expand its actions to include up to 65 hotels in 12 cities.
While the strikes continue, Hilton and Hyatt have expressed their commitment to reaching new contract agreements with UNITE HERE. They have assured customers that despite the limited staff, the hotels will continue to provide services. The ongoing strikes serve as a reminder of the importance of the labor movement and the need for fair treatment and wages for workers across various industries.
