Thousands of unionized hospitality workers in the Bay Area, along with thousands nationwide, went on strike on Sunday.
In San Francisco, about 1,500 members of Unite Here Local 2 were on strike, along with others in San Mateo County and San Jose. They include servers, bartenders, housekeepers, dishwashers, bellhops, cooks, and other positions, according to a press release from the union on Sunday.
Union workers at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, and Westin St. Francis have been asking for an increase in wages and better health benefits since their contracts expired in August. According to the release, the union is also protesting “painful workloads. “
“The hotel industry is recovering while workers and guests are getting left behind,” said Lizzy Tapia, president of Unite Here Local 2.”Workers are fighting for affordable health care and good raises because they just aren’t making enough to …