As Labor Day festivities brought throngs of visitors to marinas and waterside businesses, not all aspects of the holiday were celebratory. This September revealed the resilience of Indiana's Two Herons Marina, which was bustling with boaters and lake enthusiasts despite the damage sustained from a severe June storm. According to a report by FOX59, the marina's owner, Tom Greenmann, cited around $1 million in damages. Greenmann shared that "this bridge behind us and this building were all pulled away from shore," indicating the extent of the destruction that had been partially mended in time to reopen for one of the year's busiest weekends.
More than 10,000 hotel workers across 25 U.S. hotels marked the holiday with strikes, led by the UNITE HERE union, representing their demand for fair wages and work conditions. As reported by CBS4 Indy, many of these workers, like Briana Canencia, a Native Hawaiian food server at a Marriott property, endure strenuous circumstances. Canencia's struggle was amplified as she noted, "priced out of paradise," stressing out her financial situation, managing to live paycheck-to-paycheck despite holding multiple jobs.
In Baltimore, the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor experienced a walkout of 200 workers joining the national movement, while Honolulu hosted the largest faction with around 5,000 protestors. The effort was not simply a fight for increment in wages, but also a plea for respect and humane treatment in an industry reshaped by the pandemic's economic ripples. This was emphasized by additional coverage from Inside Indiana Business, which showcased the voice of these workers, many of whom juggle increased workloads with diminished hours and fewer benefits than in pre-COVID times.
