Working as a housekeeper at the Moxy hotel in downtown Boston, Fatima Amahmoud faces daunting challenges with up to 17 rooms to clean per shift. The lack of daily room cleaning options has added to her workload and stress, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among unionized housekeepers in major hotel chains.
Thousands of hotel workers represented by the UNITE HERE union have gone on strike in several cities, demanding better working conditions, higher wages, and a reversal of service and staffing cuts. The ongoing labor dispute highlights the struggles faced by low-wage women, especially women of color and immigrants, who dominate the hotel industry workforce.
Despite efforts by hotels to attract workers with increased wages, many employees like Maria Mata and Nely Reinante continue to struggle financially due to inconsistent hours and low pay. UNITE HERE’s fight for fair compensation and workload guarantees is gaining momentum, with recent successes in southern California.
The pandemic has exacerbated existing issues but also renewed the push for better treatment and rights for hotel workers. As the industry rebounds, the battle between employees and hotels over working conditions continues to unfold.
By: Jennifer Kelleher and [Your Name]