HOUSTON — Members of UNITE HERE Local 23 began a historic strike at the Hilton Americas-Houston in downtown on Labor Day. “This is the first hotel strike in Texas,” striker Maria Vasquez told the Militant. She has worked at the Hilton for 17 years as a housekeeper and makes just $16.50 an hour. “We must have better wages and benefits, I have children and our pay isn’t enough to pay rent. My electricity bill is $500 a month.” The strike is set to continue through Sept. 20.
The union contract with the Hilton expired June 30. When no progress was made toward a settlement, workers voted to authorize a strike by 99.3% Aug. 13. Then Local 23 organized a press conference and several picket lines to build support for their fight.
Workers are demanding a $23 an hour minimum. “We have to take it up several notches here to turn up the pressure on this company,” said Franchesca Caraballo, president of Local 23’s Texas chapter. Strikers plan to march to City Hall Sept. 9 and speak out on their fight at the next City Council meeting.
The Hilton Americas-Houston, one of the city’s largest hotels, is owned by the Houston First Corporation. Hotel bosses say they broke records for both the number of visitors and hotel profits in 2024, raking in $3 billion.
Strikers are also demanding better schedules and lighter workloads, more control over safety and for respect. “I am not getting 40 hours a week. Making $16.50 an hour, I took in just $630 in two weeks,” housekeeper Isel Cortez said. “We are fighting for better schedules and more hours. When there is not enough work, the Hilton says ‘take some money from your vacation and sick days.’ So you end up with no vacation or sick days.”
Nakki Watts Sr. has been at the Hilton for nine years. He also makes $16.50 an hour working in extreme heat in the laundry room. “Three of my co-workers passed out and one of them cut her head when she fell,” he said. “They gave us a fan, but it just blows hot air around.”
“I moved here from Seattle and I am making $2,500 less,” said Kenyatta Oatis. “I work in pastry and they change your schedule every week. We can’t plan our lives. I have a degree in culinary and pastry. We are fighting for more money and better hours. In August I only worked five days and we don’t even get eight hours a day.”
Unite Here Local 23 represents over 400 of the hourly and tipped workers at Hilton Americas-Houston, as well as workers at the Marriott Marquis, the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the George R. Brown Convention Center, where contracts will expire this fall. The local represents 28,000 hospitality and airport workers across 12 states and Washington, D.C.
Jordan Urdoneta, a houseman at the nearby Marriott Marquis, said he regularly joins the picket line here. “Our contract expires Oct. 1,” he said. “The housemen bring supplies to the housekeepers and clean carpets and floors on 11 to 12 floors a day. We have to work very fast and if they find something wrong we get disciplined.”
The strike needs solidarity! Get out the word! The strikers picket from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Send messages and donations to UNITE HERE Local 23, 2506 Sutherland St., Houston TX 77023, or go to “Support Hilton Americas Workers’ Fight for a Fair Contract!” a GoFundMe page put up by the president of the Texas chapter.