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Hilton Americas workers press for $23 wage, urge Houston First audit and public meetings
Summary
Workers at the Hilton Americas told Houston City Council they have been reduced to part‑time hours, earn about $16.50 an hour and are striking to win a $23 minimum at the hotel; speakers also urged the council to require transparency at Houston First, the public corporation overseeing the convention district.
Hundreds of Hilton Americas employees and supporters urged the Houston City Council on Sept. 9 to press the hotel and Houston First into meaningful contract talks, arguing a profitable convention hotel should pay a living wage and hold the public corporation overseeing the convention district to higher transparency standards.
The workers, represented in remarks to the council by union members and supporters, said many employees are scheduled only four to six hours a day, cannot cover rent and groceries and frequently use vacation or sick time to make up lost income. “We work hard. We’re not asking to get rich. We’re asking to be able to just live and not have to live paycheck to paycheck,” said Kenyatta Otis, identified as a pastry chef at the Hilton Americas.
The union’s stated wage demand is $23 per hour as a bottom rate in year one. “We have asked for a $23 rate,” Willie Gonzalez, an organizing representative for Unite Here Local 23, told the council. Council…
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