Read our editorial on the significance of strikes here.
Workers at the Hilton Americas hotel in downtown Houston, TX, have been on strike since September 1, marking the first hotel worker strike in Texas history. The strike was originally scheduled by the union brass of UNITE HERE to end on September 9 but is now extended to October 12 with the union citing that the “Hilton has not come to the table with the raise that the workers need to survive in Houston.”
The extension of the strike beyond the initial planned end time is itself a victory for the striking workers—it continues the struggle for their just demands instead of relegating the strike action to a largely symbolic, short-term act that the company can plan for and wait out and that business unions use to strike a militant pose without actually fighting to the hilt.
One striking banquet cook told The Worker, “We’re just fighting for simple respect, obviously higher wages, reasonable workloads.” Workers are demanding a raise from $16.50 an hour to $23 an hour and better shift scheduling, citing that many workers have to work multiple jobs to survive. Union officials with UNITE HERE Local 23, which represents the workers, reported that the Hilton countered the union’s proposal with a paltry, immediate $1 raise to $17.50 per hour, a 75-cent increase in January, and a 50- cent increase every 6 months following. “I think the hotel is more worried about their reputation than their workers,” the striker continued.
A hotel steward of nine years told The Worker, “$30, $40 dollars [is what we need], the price of everything is rising.” This is in contrast to the $23 an hour demand floated by the union leadership.
UNITE HERE Local 23 commented that there has been no meaningful progress regarding the wage increase in contract negotiations which started at the end of June after the union contract expired.
The hotel is owned by Houston First, the city’s corporation for tourism and conventions. In a recent presentation to Houston First’s finance and asset management committee, the hotel noted it received about $29.5 million in revenue in the first seven months of 2025. The Hilton-Americas general manager stating that “2025 will be another record revenue year.”
The union is calling for a “full audit” of Houston First after the hotel has either denied, redacted, or not responded to information requested by the union, with the union noting that millions of tax money is going to the company without transparency in operations.
Thus far the strike has indefinitely postponed the City of Houston’s State of the City Address along with an annual Democratic Party fundraiser.
“If you don’t fight you’re just going to keep taking these pennies and crumbs that the company wants to give you.” commented the banquet cook.
Another Hilton worker, a housekeeper that has been working at the Hilton for 10 years, told The Worker that workers should “put their fears aside, because one must first see their well-being and the future, look forward and not backwards.”
A strike fund for the workers can be found here for donations.
Image: Workers on the Hilton Americas picket line in Houston, TX, The Worker.
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