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In Seattle, more than 100 Hilton hotel workers have walked off the job, demanding fair wages, balanced workloads, and the reversal of staffing cuts made during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike, led by the Unite Here union, underscores growing frustrations within the hotel industry over post-pandemic recovery and labor rights.
Key Demands of the Strike
The weeklong strike, which began on Oct. 12, involves 374 workers from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport and Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center. According to Unite Here, these employees are pushing for:
- Increased Wages: Workers are calling for higher pay to keep up with the rising cost of living.
- Improved Staffing and Workloads: Many hotel staff members report being overworked, particularly after pandemic-related staff reductions that have not been reversed.
- Reversal of COVID-19 Cuts: Workers want to see pre-pandemic staffing levels and services restored, ensuring better work conditions for employees and improved service for hotel guests.
"We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach fair and reasonable agreements that are beneficial to both our valued team members and to our hotels," a Hilton spokesperson said in a statement.
A Growing Movement Across the U.S.
The Seattle strike is part of a broader movement, as over 4,300 hotel workers from Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott locations in cities such as Honolulu, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle are now on strike.
In September, around 2,000 workers staged a walkout at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu—the largest Hilton hotel globally. Additionally, during the Labor Day weekend, over 10,000 hotel workers across several cities initiated multi-day strikes as contract negotiations with Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott stalled.
Unite Here: Advocating for Workers’ Rights
Unite Here, the union leading these efforts, represents hotel, casino, and airport workers across the United States and Canada. Their continued efforts aim to improve wages, restore full staffing, and provide better working conditions for employees in the hospitality industry.
With no resolution in sight, this movement signals that hotel workers across the nation are ready to take a stand for their rights, making it clear that fair compensation and humane working conditions are non-negotiable.
