PHILADELPHIA - Hotel workers in Philadelphia are on strike to protest the hotel's recent rate increases and inadequate pay. The union representing the Wyndham Hotel in the city, Local 274 representatives, said that the hotel workers should get at least a living wage from the $100 billion in federal bailout money allocated to the hospitality industry.
The company has also raised its COVID cleaning standards and has not given workers a raise since July. Also stating that the hotel industry is one of the wealthiest in the city, so it is only right that workers receive a share of the wealth.
The union, which represents employees of the Wyndham in the Philadelphia Historic District, also called for a better contract. The strikers cited a 2019 report by the Black Work Matters organization, which stated, "73 percent of hotel workers earn less than $25,000 a year." In addition to the housekeepers and lobby staff, members of this union represent the laundry, cooks, and lobby staff. The report noted that the majority of union members are immigrants.
