Strike Looms as S.F. Hotel Workers Hold Determined Labor Day Rally

Over 1000 workers at 14 of the most luxurious hotels in San Francisco held a loud rally at Union Square in front of the Westin Saint Francis Hotel. The demonstration could be heard for blocks as the workers, their families and supporters banged on drums and the back of picket signs.

Cooks, room cleaners, bartenders, food servers, bussers, room cleaners and dish washers who make it possible for these hotels to even function have been without a contract since August 14. The hotel workers are represented by Unite Here, Local 2 who set a strike vote for September 14. Little progress has been made in negotiations between the union and the Multi-Employer Group representing the transnational class A hotels.

As was the case of the Southern California grocery workers labor struggle last winter, the central issue is around comprehensive health care for the workers, their families and retirees. Unite Here Local 2 is also asking for a cost of living raise, an increase in pension contributions and an elimination of subcontracting, which is the owners way of getting around a union contract.

As the demonstration covered the sidewalks on both sides of Powell Street for over 2 hours around 150 were arrested for blocking the street including SF supervisor Tom Ammiano, Father Louie Vitale, San Francisco Labor Council Leader Walter Johnson and many others.