Hotel workers across major chains in the U.S. are facing challenges as they navigate through labor disputes and negotiations for better working conditions. The issue of daily room cleaning has become a focal point in the ongoing battle between unionized housekeepers and hotel management.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel industry has been grappling with staffing shortages and evolving travel trends, leading to increased workloads for employees like Fatima Amahmoud at the Moxy hotel in Boston. The push for automatic daily room cleaning has been a key demand by workers represented by the UNITE HERE union, who are seeking higher wages and a reversal of COVID-19-era service and staffing cuts.
More than 40,000 workers are currently engaged in difficult contract negotiations with major hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Omni. The union has authorized strikes in 12 cities if agreements are not reached after contracts expire. The first strikes have already begun in Boston and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Women, particularly Black and Hispanic women, who make up a significant portion of the hotel workforce, have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic's impact on low-wage service jobs. The industry, which employs about 1.9 million people, is experiencing staffing shortages, with housekeeping being identified as a critical hiring need.
While hotels claim to have increased wages and offered more benefits to attract workers, employees like Maria Mata and Nely Reinante continue to face financial challenges due to irregular work schedules and low pay. The union is advocating for fair compensation and workload guarantees, citing the undervaluation of hospitality work, especially when performed by women and people of color.
As negotiations continue, the hotel industry is witnessing a rebound from the pandemic, with higher room rates and guest spending contributing to increased revenue per available room. However, the battle over daily room cleaning underscores the broader struggle between workers seeking better conditions and hotels looking to manage costs amidst a labor shortage.
