In a concerted effort for fair compensation and work conditions, Boston hotel workers are once again striking, a testament to the unresolved issues between hotel employees and management. Taking place across four distinguished hotels in the city, approximately 400 workers initiated their strike Thursday morning. These hotels, namely Moxy Boston Downtown, The Newbury Boston, W Boston Hotel, and The Dagny, represent just a segment of the ongoing nationwide dispute between hotel workers and large chains over wages and workloads.
According to WHDH, the strikes have surged just days after 900 workers instigated similar walkouts over Labor Day weekend. Heavy workloads and insufficient wages to meet the rising cost of living are the predominant grievances. The current situation in Boston echoes a broader pattern of labor unrest in the hospitality industry. With the hospitality industry experiencing a post-pandemic resurgence, the hotel workers’ union sees an opportunity for its members to claim a fairer share of an industry's profits that have seen substantial growth. Meanwhile, the negotiations, which started in April, have not yet yielded a resolution.
Further enriching the narrative are the first-hand accounts of employees who are bearing the brunt of these stalled negotiations. Alicia Cacho, a front desk agent at The Newbury Boston for 12 years, articulated her position emphatically. "I’m on strike because I need higher wages to pay my bills and support my daughters through college. It’s also really important that I maintain my health insurance and make sure I have a pension that will enable me to retire with dignity," Cacho told Boston 25 News. She further declared, "Going on strike is a difficult thing to do, but I’m thinking about my family’s future in the long term. The hotel owners know how hard we work and how expensive it is to live in Boston. We know our worth, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to win the raises, benefits, and job security that we deserve!"
Union leadership also weighed in on the matter, summarizing the core of the workers' demands and their rationale. Carlos Aramayo, president of Unite Here Local 26, contended that despite a booming travel industry and lucrative room rates, wages remained an untenable challenge for the workforce. "The Union and the hotel companies are still far apart on strike issues including raises, workloads, and COVID-era cuts," Aramayo stated. "Without a significant wage increase, many hotel workers simply cannot afford to live in Boston, the city that they welcome guests to. Our members shouldn’t have to work more than one job. We’re asking the hotels to hire and schedule more staff because strenuous workloads are breaking workers' bodies. The travel industry is booming in Boston, and it’s unacceptable for hotel companies to boost profits by cutting their offerings to guests and abandoning their responsibility to workers."
As the clash over contract negotiations intensifies, the local impact becomes increasingly conspicuous. Earlier in the month, workers at other prominent hotels, including Fairmont Copley Square, Park Plaza, Hilton Logan Airport, and Hilton Seaport, had also engaged in strikes. With the hospitality industry’s peak season fast approaching, the city’s ability to cater to tourists could hinge on the swift resolution of these labor disputes.
