Approximately 2,000 workers commenced a strike on Tuesday at Hawaii’s largest resort, joining a wider movement of hotel workers striking across various U.S. cities.
Unionized employees at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort—the largest Hilton globally—initiated an open-ended strike at 5 a.m. The workers are demanding better conditions, including increased wages, more manageable workloads, and the reinstatement of daily room cleaning services, which were reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Representatives from Hilton have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the strike.
Greg and Kerrie Sellers, guests at the resort, reported waking up to the sounds of drum beats, whistles, and chants from the strikers. Greg Sellers mentioned that although the commotion was noticeable, they did not anticipate it would significantly affect their stay. He expressed sympathy towards the strikers’ cause, noting that working conditions in Australia, their home country, appeared more favorable compared to those in the U.S.
Beachgoers and hotel guests could hear the distant sounds of the strike while enjoying the amenities of the sprawling resort. On the street, workers marched with signs displaying slogans like “One Job Should Be Enough,” highlighting the economic struggles faced by many Hawaii residents who often work multiple jobs due to the high cost of living.
With the onset of this strike, over 4,000 hotel workers are now on strike at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels in Honolulu, San Diego, and San Francisco, as reported by the UNITE HERE union. These workers will continue striking until new contracts are secured, and the union has indicated that additional strikes may begin shortly.
Earlier, more than 10,000 hotel workers across the U.S. went on strike during the Labor Day weekend, most of which concluded after two or three days.
Aileen Bautista, a housekeeper at Hilton Hawaiian Village, stated that she holds three jobs to support herself as a single mother. She expressed her determination to stay on strike as long as necessary to achieve the desired changes.
Estella Fontanilla, another striker, emphasized the importance of daily housekeeping, explaining that rooms are significantly more challenging to clean after several days. She encouraged hotel guests to request daily cleaning services.
The impact of the strike on hotel services remains uncertain. The union cautioned that striking hotels might face service suspensions and operate with minimal staffing, with picket lines potentially active up to 24 hours a day. Previous strikes have led to disruptions such as unavailable daily housekeeping, accumulations of towels and linens in hallways, visible trash piles, closed bars and restaurants, and reduced pool hours.
Concurrently, more than 600 nurses are locked out of the Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children after a one-day strike earlier this month. Recently, 10 individuals were arrested for blocking temporary nurses from entering the hospital, where the striking nurses are advocating for safer patient-nurse ratios.
In light of these events, Hawaii Governor Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez have called on hospital and union leaders to engage in federal mediation to facilitate a resolution.