By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com
Members of Unite Here Local 7, the City Union of Baltimore, the American Federation of Government (AFGE) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) joined forces July 25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located in the Inner Harbor to protest wages earned by hospitality workers.
The protest was orchestrated by The Unite Here Local 7, which is a union for Baltimore’s hospitality workers, and had many participants who worked at both the Hyatt Regency and the Hilton.
The picketers assembled outside of the Hyatt’s main entrance and marched in a circle chanting phrases such as “No Justice No Peace” while holding signs that read, “One Job Should Be Enough” and “Respect Our Guest, Respect Our Work.” The demonstration’s main purpose was to demand fair wages for all workers within the hospitality industry.
“ D.C. housekeepers are currently paid $26 an hour and they just signed a contract that’s going to get them to $33 an hour,” said Tracey Lingo, president of Unite Here Local 7. “In Philadelphia the housekeepers make $22 an hour but our union housekeepers are making $16.20 at the Hyatt and the Hilton—and obviously that’s not a wage that you can currently live on.”
Lingo went on to say thousands of hotel workers across the country are bargaining for better wages, and that since the pandemic hotel corporations have eliminated positions such as doorman and room services.
Shantia Devon, who has worked for the Hilton for more than a decade, shared her experience of how the pandemic affected her job in room service.
“I’ve been there for 11 years. After COVID when I went back to work, room service was no longer open. So I had to start working in the coffee shop as a barista and the money is just not the same,” she said.
Even though Devon obtained a job at the Hilton’s Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, she admitted that she initially thought that the hotel would gradually bring their employees back to work.
“I was so grateful to be back to work that I didn’t argue, however, the money is still not the same. I’m still struggling. The hourly pay is higher than I was getting at room service, but I’m not receiving the same tips that I was getting in room service,” she said.
Although the Hilton has properties in over 126 countries, many of the protesters felt that they don’t distribute their resources fairly. Jeffrey Barner, who has worked at the Hilton for 16 years in bellman guest services, shared what he wants the hotel industry to do for their employees.
“That’s why we’re out here. We know they’re making money and we know they’re profitable—there’s no doubt about it,” said Barner. “We’re just asking for those profits to be distributed equally and fairly among everybody that works for the company,” he said.
As the protest started to subside, Lingo addressed the crowd as a couple leaders from the local unions came up to speak.
Zeke Cohen, Democratic nominee for Baltimore City Council president, was also in attendance and marched in solidarity with the protesters. Cohen also gave a shout out to the other unions that were present as he shared encouraging words with the crowd.
“When we stand united we win,” said Cohen. “Baltimore, this is our moment to win.”
Courtney Jenkins, who is the president of the Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO Union, didn’t hold back as he continued to motivate the participants.
“It’s always a pleasure to be on the line with you. I wish it was under better circumstances, but we want to let the Hyatt, the Hilton and any other hospitality know that if you’re going to pick a fight with the unions, it’s a fight that you’re going to lose every d- – n time,” said Jenkins.
The crowd shouted and cheered with roaring applause as Lingo led the final chant for the evening.
“We’ll be back,” the crowd shouted at the hotel. “We’ll be back.”
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