All summer long, if you walked around Seattle’s Stadium District during the day you probably heard the sounds of the labor movement at work—chants and exclamations from the striking unionized employees at Hilton’s Embassy Suites hotel picketing their employer for better wages and working conditions.
Things are quieter now. After an 85-day work stoppage, workers signed a contract last Thursday night that union officials say amounts to a “tremendous win,” according to a press release. They went on strike June 18 and the work stoppage lasted nearly three months including during the height of the FIFA World Cup, making it the longest hotel strike in Washington state history, according to UNITE HERE Local 8, the union representing the workers.
One of the most groundbreaking aspects of the new contract, is year-round health insurance for employees who have worked at least 1,250 hours the prior year (an average of 24 hours a week), according to Jus Adsuara, a member of the housekeeping staff and a union shop steward.That’s a rare benefit among even unionized hotels, Adsuara says.Previously, workers who got assigned fewer shifts after the peak summer months could temporarily lose their insurance as their hours dipped.
The union earned wins on wages, too: Next year starting pay for Embassy Suites housekeepers will rise to $31 per hour, a 6.9 percent raise, while tipped workers will see a $1 per hour bump on top of Seattle’s minimum wage of $21.30. In response to demands that Hilton increase staffing levels, housekeepers will have their workload reduced, and front desk workers can now file grievances if they are overworked.
The union also scored concessions on immigration-related issues, a sticking point for the workforce, which the union says is mostly immigrants. Employees wanted supervisors to alert staff whenever Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other Department of Homeland personnel were at the hotel—a legitimate concern given that the World Cup brought additional officers to Seattle and signs of increased ICE presence all over Washington state. There is now a labor-management committee that can address emergency situations when ICE shows up at the hotel. Additionally, employees who lose their jobs because their work authorizations expire can return to their jobs within two years.
The union won these concessions after a few months where the union and management barely communicated, says Adsuara. “Apart from a really uneventful [bargaining] session on day 12 of the strike, we had over 70 days of no contact from the company,” the strike leader says. “It was this huge battle of attrition and confidence between both sides of the bargaining table, waiting for the other to give.”
The union didn’t cave. A strike fund helped workers defray the costs of not working, but it didn’t replace all of their lost wages, according to Adsuara. While they were out picketing, Embassy Suites workers were supported by local politicians, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, who both walked the picket line on Labor Day. Representatives from other local unions also joined the picket line.
“This agreement reflects a collaborative outcome and our commitment to our valued Team Members,” Hilton said in a statement to the Stranger. “We look forward to welcoming our Team Members back to work and continuing to deliver exceptional hospitality to our guests.”
The immediate reaction to the contract agreement on Thursday was “a big sigh of relief” from workers, says Adsuara. The day started at 6 a.m. on the picket line and the final bargaining session stretched late into the evening. But getting over the finish line was worth it. “I’m feeling pretty proud,” they say.
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