Strike threat across 35 hotels in Boston looms over hospitality sector
Guests at nearly three dozen Boston hotels could experience less-than-desirable visits fueled by staff shortages as early as this weekend should thousands of hospitality workers go on strike due to unsuccessful contract negotiations.
Roughly 4,500 workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 26 are bracing for strikes across 35 hotels after months of rocky contract negotiations with hotel companies. The workers are shooting for higher wages to keep up with inflation and pandemic-era understaffing that they say has left more work for fewer employees to handle.
"Unless something shifts, I think there will be a significant disruption in the hospitality industry over the fall," Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Local 26, told the State House News Service Wednesday.
The strikes could start at any time and at any hotel once existing contracts expire on Aug. 31, should negotiations fail, including with major companies like Marriott, Hilton and Omni Hotels, Aramayo said. Hotels that could be impacted include the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Westin Copley Place, the Omni Parker House and the Hilton Boston Park Plaza.