Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — City hotel workers are back on strike over the next few days as hundreds of workers continue to fight for better working conditions.
“[The strikes] represent the amazing things I love about this union which is the community and how much we are a part of Boston together,” said Shey Stillman, a front desk worker at the Newbury Boston.
Read More: Roughly 900 Boston Hotel Workers Go On Strike
Stillman joined other union workers on Thursday for a second round of a three-day strike.
She was not optimistic that one round of strikes would lead to contract negotiations for workers.
“You hope that you would hear stuff about contracts being made after the first strike, unfortunately I don’t think it’s moved the needle too much, it was a limited strike like this one was too,” she said.
Also on the picket lines was Carlos Aramayo, president of Unite Here Local 26 union.
“The hotel industry has not put an offer on the table [that] we can meaningfully engage in to get to what everyone out here is striking for,” Aramayo said.
WBZ NewsRadio spoke to Aramayo outside The Newbury Boston, one of the four hotels in the city where over 400 workers are striking now through Saturday.
“The industry thinks that they can drag this out and that we’re going to accept a contract that is somehow less than what folks deserve,” Aramayo added.
He also added that while no one wants to be on strike, what they’re fighting for includes a real wage increase, a pension, and medical care.
WBZ NewsRadio has reached out to the W Boston for comment, and they said that "they remain open, and have well-established protocols in place to operate our property and take care of our guests in the event of any impact to staffing. When Unite Here is ready to return to the bargaining table, we remain available to continue to negotiate a fair contract."
The Moxy Boston Downtown, The Newbury Boston, and The Dagny have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The Omni Hotel and Resorts responded with this statement:
"Out of respect for all parties, Omni won't comment on the status of the negotiations except to say that we remain committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a contract agreeable to all parties. Unfortunately, as has occurred recently in other markets, the union has determined that a strike is in its interest. In view of this labor action, the Hotel has put in place plans to ensure services are not interrupted and that our guests will continue to experience the genuine hospitality, personalized service, and elevated experiences that are the hallmark of the Omni New Haven Hotel."
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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