Failed contract prompts San Jose hotel worker strike

Frustrated San Jose hotel workers launched a three-day strike over Labor Day weekend against the Signia and DoubleTree after more than two months of failed contract negotiations with Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Unite Here Local 19 hotel workers in San Jose chose to strike Monday night and picket through Tuesday, a union representative told San José Spotlight. The previous contract between union representatives and hotel companies expired June 30, leading housekeepers, receptionists, cooks and hundreds of hotel workers to hit the picket lines in downtown San Jose in mid July. Now they have returned with no agreement on the table.

Workers began a new three-day picket Sunday as contract negotiations drag into September— and not just in San Jose. Striking workers picketed in San Francisco, Boston and Seattle, among other cities nationwide.

Unite Here Local 19 hospitality worker Myrna Garcia marched with at least two dozen employees outside the Signia by Hilton in downtown San Jose Tuesday evening as hotel security watched on from a distance.

Hotel security confined the striking hotel workers to a small square marked with white tape in between two pillars outside the hotel’s entrance, with union workers using megaphones to chant call-back phrases like, “What do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now.”

“We’re here fighting to gain a fair contract with good benefits, medical coverage and a pension that reflects today’s economy,” Garcia told San José Spotlight in Spanish. “The amount we’re making now isn’t enough.”

About 650 employees across five downtown hotels are working without a contract, union representatives said. International President of Unite Here Gwen Mills said about 10,000 hotel workers went on strike across the country.

“During COVID, everyone suffered, but now the hotel industry is making record profits while workers and guests are left behind,” Mills said. “Too many hotels still haven’t restored standard services that guests deserve, like automatic daily housekeeping and room service. Workers aren’t making enough to support their families. Many can no longer afford to live in the cities that they welcome guests to, and painful workloads are breaking their bodies.”

A Hilton Hotels & Resorts spokesperson said they make every effort to maintain a cooperative and productive relationship with the unions that represent some of their team members.

“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,” the spokesperson told San José Spotlight.

At least one organized conference was happening at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel during the strike.

Last year, Unite Here union workers picketed hotels in Los Angeles and caused the Critics Choice Awards to change venues. San Jose hotel workers picketing since Sunday said they hoped to generate the same attention, as they have yet to receive a substantial offer from Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

A report from hotel industry data company STR showed U.S. hotel revenues reached record highs in 2022. Erik Hayden, founder of real estate firm Urban Catalyst, said San Jose’s hotel market last year outperformed 2022 numbers by 11% — with more than $1.5 billion in total revenue.

“We’re hoping the company comes up with a fair contract offer,” Garcia said. “Come to the table with a common sense proposal already.”