The US Labor Day holiday falls on this Monday (September 2nd) in Eastern Time.

Typically, this day along with the preceding weekend, is one of the busiest holidays in the USA. However, this year, many Americans who planned to travel have encountered a problem: hotel strikes.

Tens of thousands of hotel workers went on strike.

On Sunday, Eastern Time, tens of thousands of hotel workers from 25 hotels in eight cities including Boston, Hawaii, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle in the USA went on strike, demanding higher wages, improved working conditions, and the cancellation of previous layoffs during the pandemic.

The US hotel union, 'Unite Here,' was unable to reach an agreement with hotel chains including Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott during contract negotiations.

'Unite Here' has over 275,000 members. The union's president, Gwen Mills, stated that despite the 'record profits' made by these hotels, they have not reversed the cost-cutting measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why the union chose to strike before Labor Day on Monday.

"Many hotels still have not restored the standard service that guests deserve, such as daily cleaning and room service. The workers are not earning enough to make ends meet," Mills said in a statement, "Many people in the cities they welcome visitors to can no longer afford lodging expenses, and the painful work is taking a toll on their bodies. We will not accept the hotel companies profiting from a 'new normal' by cutting services to guests and abandoning commitments to employees."

In the past few years, the prices of goods and rent in the US have skyrocketed, but the wage increases for hotel employees have lagged far behind.

For example, Aissata Seck, a server who worked at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza for 18 years, said that in the past five years, her rent has increased from $1900 to $2900, and "my salary is only enough to pay for rent". Under the pressure of rent, she now has to work as an Uber driver to make ends meet.

Apple Ratanabunsrithang, a chef at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco, also says that she "has to work two jobs just to survive in the city".

Coinciding with the busy holiday season in the US

Usually, the Labor Day holiday in the US is the peak period for Americans to travel.

The American Automobile Association stated last month that travel during the Labor Day weekend this year is expected to increase by 9% compared to the same period last year. The US Transportation Security Administration also stated that a record-breaking 17 million people are expected to travel during this Labor Day holiday.

However, the hotel unions have chosen this period to go on strike, clearly to put more pressure on the hotel management.

This strike is expected to last for three days. The union has threatened that cities like Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence have also approved strikes, which could begin at any time. The strike wave may spread to 65 hotels in 12 cities, with the number of strikers possibly reaching 150,000.

According to reports, the hotel where the employee strike occurred is still in operation, but due to insufficient hotel staff, it may not be able to provide comprehensive services to guests.

Michael D'Angelo, the labor relations director of Hyatt Hotels USA, expressed disappointment with the strike chosen by the Unite Here union. "We look forward to continuing negotiations for a fair contract and recognizing the contributions of Hyatt employees. Hyatt Hotels has developed an emergency plan to minimize the impact of potential strike activity on hotel operations."

"We look forward to continuing negotiations for a fair contract and recognizing the contributions of Hyatt employees. Hyatt Hotels has developed an emergency plan to minimize the impact of potential strike activity on hotel operations."