SEATTLE — UNITE HERE Local 8 members who work at three area hotels went on strike during the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Baristas, cooks, dishwashers, and front-desk agents picketed outside of the Westin Seattle, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport, and Seattle Airport Hilton and Conference Center. They joined 10,000 workers across the country striking.
RELATED: Strikes start at top hotel chains as housekeepers seek higher wages and daily room cleaning work
"I think a lot of our members' work can be invisible to visitors or travelers but it's definitely the difference between having a good stay or a less good stay," Anita Seth, UNITE HERE Local 8 President, said.
According to Seth, negotiations have been happening since the Spring.
"They put $0.90 cents a year on the table which at this time in our country, those kinds of raises aren't keeping up with inflation," Seth said. "When I say people work two and three jobs, I'm saying they're working 60,70, 80 ours a week.. That's not uncommon, just to make ends meet."
Hasan Irtegun is a hotel cook. He said he works two jobs and clocks at least 70 hours a week.
"One job should be enough for all of us," Irtegun said. "We are fighting for that. I don't have any free time on my day off or before I come into work."
Local 8 President Seth said wages should not be an issue because the hotel industry has bounced back.
"The industry has come back since COVID but our members, our wages haven't kept up," President Seth said.
KING 5 reported 400,000 hotel rooms were sold in downtown Seattle in July. It was the highest monthly total since 2020, slightly surpassing the July 2019 demand.
RELATED: Downtown Seattle surpasses pre-pandemic hotel demand, total visitors nearing 2019 benchmark
Seth said the workers who bore the brunt of COVID job losses deserve to reap the benefits of this rebound.
"How our members are doing also makes a difference in how the city is doing," Seth said.
Hilton and Hyatt released statements saying they look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts. As of this article being published Marriott has not commented on the strike.