Unite Here Local 2 brings hotel-worker strike, staffing and health-care demands to supervisors in committee of the whole hearing

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened as a committee of the whole on Oct. 8 for a public hearing on the state of the hotel industry in the city, focusing on working conditions for hotel workers and the status of the local economy. Union leaders and dozens of Unite Here Local 2 members testified about staffing cuts, heavier workloads, and proposals from major hotel companies that would reduce or replace union-sponsored health coverage.

Unite Here Local 2 negotiator Anand Singh told the board the industry remains “one of the bedrocks of San Francisco’s economy” and said local hotel workers typically earn about $53,000 a year but depend on union-sponsored health care and retirement benefits. “Hotel employees take by far the first and the biggest hit when business drops in the hotels,” Singh said, noting that “98 percent” of Local 2 members were laid off during the COVID shutdown and were kept on health coverage by their union health fund.

Union president Lizzie Tapia said the union had authorized strikes at large hotels and that 1,500 workers at three downtown properties were on strike at the time of the hearing. “Too many hotel companies have embraced their own idea of the doom loop logic,” Tapia said. She added employers have “kept staffing levels at rock bottom even when guests come back,” while raising rates and imposing resort or destination fees. “By getting customers who visit here to accept less and making workers do even more, hotels grow their profits,” Tapia said.

Workers gave multiple examples of understaffing and health and safety concerns: a house-person described being asked to shampoo and clean the equivalent of three staff positions alone; a dining attendant and other speakers said pandemic-era staffing reductions had not been restored even as occupancy and rates rose. Several speakers said they or family members relied on union health coverage for major medical care they could not have afforded otherwise; one housekeeping employee said the union-paid insurance allowed her to get surgery after a tumor was discovered while she was laid off.

Supervisory responses and follow-up

Supervisors across the political spectrum praised the work of hotel employees and expressed concern about industry practices. Supervisor Ronan called for stronger licensing and enforcement of hotel standards, saying she had asked the city attorney to draft legislation to require hotel licenses similar to restaurant oversight. Supervisor Preston committed support for workers and said the board should press employers to maintain “solid, dependable union health care.” Several supervisors — including Melgar, Dorsey, Ronan, Preston and Walton — publicly pledged support for the workers’ demands and for stronger enforcement of hotel licensing and standards.

Union strategy and city impact

Tapia said Local 2 is asking customers with bookings at hotels on strike to relocate to nonstrike properties; she said union members had chosen not to strike during some large events to protect the city economy, but chose to authorize strikes when negotiations with large companies failed. Singh and Tapia described patterns of ownership churn and financial engineering by hotel owners and REITs that, they said, extract short-term returns while undermining long-term service levels and jobs.

Public comment and testimony

Dozens of hotel workers from multiple downtown hotels gave two-minute statements describing long shifts, heavier workloads and concerns that employers were attempting to weaken or replace the union health fund. Several speakers recounted medical needs that had been covered by union insurance, and that the prospect of losing coverage was a principal reason workers had authorized strike action. The hearing drew broad public attention and solidarity from labor and elected officials.

Outcomes and next steps

The board convened the hearing and requested a report from the city controller on the state of the hotel industry and worker impacts. Several supervisors indicated they would pursue additional regulatory tools, including examining enforcement of the city’s healthy-building and licensing rules for hotels and exploring measures to ensure hotels meet staffing and service standards.

Ending: Union leaders said the strike would continue “for as long as it takes” to secure contract language guaranteeing wage increases, staffing standards and maintenance of their union-sponsored health plan. The committee hearing record will be used to inform possible legislative or enforcement actions by the board and city agencies.