BOSTON, Mass.—In the first hotel strike in Boston history, more than 1,500 workers at seven Marriott
hotels walked out on the morning of Oct. 3. “After five years of record profits and more than six months of contract talks, Marriott still doesn’t get it,” UNITE HERE Local 26 president Brian Lang said in a statement. “It’s our work that creates the great experience for the hotel guests. We are the reason they keep coming back.” The union represents 5,000 hotel workers in the Boston area, including housekeepers, bartenders, and bellmen, but is concentrating on Marriott, the city’s largest hotel chain. UNITE HERE members may also go on strike at Marriott hotels in several other cities, including San Francisco, Detroit, Seattle, and Honolulu. Job security is a key issue, as technology is increasingly enabling self-check-in kiosks and robot room service. Local 26 also wants more secure scheduling, stronger protections against sexual harassment, and accommodations for pregnant workers. Read more
