San Francisco's Marriott hotel workers have ratified a new contract, marking a significant victory for Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie, who lent his support to help resolve the prolonged strike. According to the SF Examiner, Unite Here Local 2, the hotel workers union confirmed the overwhelming contract acceptance by Marriott union workers, who "voted by 99.8%" in favor of the agreement.
Despite criticisms of his inexperience during the campaign, Lurie managed to play a pivotal role in reconciling hotel owners and striking employees, a skill possibly honed from his time running the anti-poverty nonprofit Tipping Point. Ted Waechter, a Unite Here Local 2 spokesperson, acknowledged Lurie's active engagement, as per SF Examiner: "Mayor-elect Lurie reached out to us following his election and made some calls to key hotel owners that got the ball rolling here." In a twist of public perception, the wealthy mayor-elect, coming off as someone rooted deeply in the city’s aspirations, is now seemingly connecting with people at the highest echelons of power.
The newly minted contract will cover around 2,000 Marriott workers and is effective until 2028. It includes provisions to preserve the workers' union health insurance plan, provides wage increases, and introduces new protections against understaffing and workload increases. This agreement follows a tenacious three-month strike that underscored the workers' resolve to protect their rights and benefits.
The settlement, however, does not mark a full end to the city's hospitality sector strife. About 1,000 workers remain on strike at Grand Hyatt and Hilton hotels despite the partial victory. In a San Francisco Chronicle interview, Anand Singh, chief negotiator for Unite Here, recognized Lurie's role, saying, "He’s absolutely very earnest. He believes in this city. We are all rooting for him." Lurie’s intervention reflects his unique leverage in reaching out to the wealthy, helping avoid further damage to upcoming major events in the city lined up for next year.
