Providence Hotel Workers hold May Day rally for fair contracts
Hotel workers in Providence are calling for the hotel industry to “Respect Our Work” and “Respect Our Guests” by raising wages and reversing staffing cuts...
100s of unionized hotel workers rallied to demand higher industry standards, workplace safety, and wages and benefits that can support their families on Wednesday evening outside the Omni Providence Hotel. Workers from the Omni Providence, Renaissance Providence Downtown, and Graduate Providence shared stories about how cuts to services and amenities are affecting them and their loved ones, as well as their struggles to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Union contracts at the Omni Providence, Renaissance Providence Downtown, and Graduate Providence have expired or are set to expire this year. Providence hotel workers joined thousands of hotel workers in 20+ cities across the United States and Canada for a May Day Day of Action, as they prepare for possible widespread labor disputes at major hotel brands.
“I say to my coworkers, we made this place,” said former Providence City Councilperson and hotel worker Carmen Castillo. “When the people come to the hotel, they come to see us. All the managers sit down in the office. The managers don't care about us. Some people come to kiss you and say, ‘Oh my baby.’ That's fake. We're not your baby.
“We [workers have] got to stick together,” continued Castillo. “That's the people that use it. I'm tired of working a lot of rooms overtime, taking extra rooms to pay my bills. I want only one job. I want a new contract. Life is really hard. every time. When we go to Walmart to get food we pay our money and our pockets are empty every week. It's time they give a raise to us. It's time for a new contract with respect and dignity - because we make this place! Every hotel downtown is because we come every day to clean the rooms in the hotels and not only the hotels - in the convention center and everywhere we go. We deserve a new contract with respect, dignity, and money.”
Since the onset of the pandemic, many hotels have scaled back their staffing, while the hotel industry’s gross operating profit was 26.63% higher in 2022 than in 2019. Hotel room rates have reached record highs as scheduling and service cuts linger. Hotels are employing fewer workers nationally and hotel staffing per occupied room is down 13% since 2019 and 32% since 1995.
Hotel workers in Providence are calling for the hotel industry to “Respect Our Work” and “Respect Our Guests” by raising wages and reversing staffing cuts that have led to painful working conditions and a reduction in guest services and amenities. Nationally, hotel workers report heavy workloads, loss of hours, and wages that are not enough for them to afford the cost of living.
“We're here today on Workers' Labor Day - May Day,” said Providence City Council President Rachel Miller. “For hundreds of years, workers have been standing up and fighting for one job to be enough. The Providence City Council is 100% with you. Every day we've got to fight together to make sure that we have enough to get by, that we have dignity at work, and that we can afford housing. This is not my first time here at this driveway here at this hotel. Over the years the name changes, but the story stays the same, right?
“At the height of the pandemic, when hotels all around the country were struggling, our sister, Councilwoman Castillo, came to the council and said, "You know what? Our hotel workers have given enough. We have sacrificed enough."
“When our whole city was struggling, when our families were struggling, we worked together. We know that now, hotels are having record profits. We know that, right? And still, they're saying, ‘Oh, we don't have the money.’
“What do we say to that?”
“No!” said the crowd
“That's right,” said Council President Miller. “I'm here to be with you to launch this fight for a contract. I am so proud to stand with you. The entire Providence City Council stands with you. Thank you for coming out.”
