- Seattle hotel workers end 85-day strike.
- Contract raises wages, expands healthcare.
- Agreement reduces housekeepers' workloads.
UNION WORKERS AT the Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square ended an 85-day strike after ratifying a new contract with Hilton. The agreement raises wages, expands healthcare coverage and provides protections for immigrant workers.
Workers ratified the contract Sept. 10 and returned to work Sept. 15, UNITE HERE Local 8 said. The strike began June 18, during the FIFA World Cup, and was the longest hotel strike in Washington state history.
"This contract includes tremendous wins on fair wages, year-round healthcare, workload, and protections for immigrant workers," said Stefan Moritz, UNITE HERE Local 8 secretary-treasurer, according to Spokesman.
Under the four-year agreement, housekeepers' starting pay will rise to $31.03 an hour on Jan. 1, according to the union — a 6.9 percent increase in the first year, with housekeeping wages rising 23.3 percent over the life of the contract.
Workers who complete at least 1,250 hours a year, or about 24 hours a week, will receive year-round healthcare coverage, the union said. Tipped workers will receive $1 an hour above Seattle's minimum wage, plus tips.
The agreement reduces housekeepers' workloads and allows front desk agents to file grievances over workload issues. Local 8 said the new starting wage will make the hotel's union housekeepers the highest-paid in Washington state.
Immigration protections were central to the dispute. Under the agreement, workers with work permit problems can return to their jobs with seniority intact for up to two years after resolving the issues. The contract also creates an enforcement mechanism for emergency situations involving immigrant workers at the hotel — a provision Local 8 said is the first of its kind at Hilton nationwide.
During bargaining, Local 8 said, workers also sought notification when federal immigration agents were at the hotel, a request management rejected.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined workers on the picket line on Labor Day.
Hilton said the agreement "reflects a collaborative outcome and our commitment to our valued Team Members." The company said it looked forward to welcoming workers back.
The settlement follows labor disputes at hotels in other FIFA World Cup markets. In New York City, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council members ratified a contract with the Hotel Association of New York in May, averting a strike before the tournament.
