Workers strike against Hilton

By Gayle Yglesias
The Guardsman

Workers of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel, who are fighting to keep their wages and benefits after their contract expired last year, organized a six-day strike that started Oct. 13.

Strike organizer and housekeeper Guadalupe Chavez, who has been employed at the hotel for 30 years, said excess labor is being put on the backs of overworked employees instead of hiring and paying more workers.

“This is my hotel. I’m gonna fight for this. Nobody can do our job,” Chavez said in front of the hotel while handing out fliers and explaining to onlookers about the strike.

“They are trying to make us work more for less money,” Chavez said. Hilton employees pay $10 per month for health care and now are expected to pay $173 per month to cover costs of benefits.

However, Hilton Spokesperson Christy Seto said “Most companies across the U.S. require their employees to contribute to their health care. In terms of health care right now, the San Francisco hotels are paying for all of their plans. Employees pay zero dollars.”

Strikers outside of San Francisco’s largest hotel building on O’Farrell Street repeatedly chanted “What time is it? Check out time,” and “We’ve got to feed our families,” and “The Hilton isn’t fair!”

“Hotels have lowered their rates to keep room occupancy up, that way if they’re not making money, at least they’re still employing their employees so they have jobs,” Seto said.

“And it’s challenging because when you don’t really have income, and you’re still employing all these people, you can’t really get into all these requests. And that’s the challenge we’re facing now.”

“We just want what’s fair,” said Hilton telecom operator Howard Shoaff, who has been employed with the hotel for 24 years.

“Our contract ended in August 2009, so it’s over a year that we’ve been working without one.”

One couple was convinced by the strikers not to check-in to the hotel. As they approached the front lobby, they were bombarded by strikers who told them the hotel would steal their belongings once they left their rooms.

The couple drove off to show support, leaving a happy crowd of strikers cheering them.

Seto said the strike was a “lose/lose situation,” because in an attempt to hurt the hotels, the union hurts San Francisco.

“These disruptive activities are not really helping anyone,” she said.

But while events may not be booked at the Hilton specifically, they’re still being booked with other nearby hotels.

Hilton General Manager Michael Dunne stated in an Oct.13 press release, “our hotel is operating normally and is fully operational. We are using our managers and temporary replacements in the place of striking employees, with little or no disruption to guest services.”

When asked about the media coverage on the strike, Chavez pointed to herself and said, “Don’t believe the news, believe me.”