Marriott Strikers Flock in San Francisco for Supervisors Hearing

A few weeks after the Marriott Hotel employees continued to strike across the country, the San Francisco supervisory board will meet Friday for a hearing on the contractual dispute between the workers and the international hotel chain.

Hundreds of Marriott workers paraded through the streets of San Francisco in the afternoon and filled the City Hall for the audience by holding placards stating "Work should be enough". Officials from the city of San Francisco called for an urgent hearing on Marriott as a strike by 2,500 San Francisco Marriott workers was entering its fifth week.

Supervisor Hillary Ronen said the strike was having a huge impact on the workforce and the economy in San Francisco. Ronen also said the Marriott CEO had declined the invitation to attend Friday's meeting.

"The least the CEO can do, after having won millions and millions of dollars in our city, is to express and explain, from Marriots' point of view, why the strike lasts so long and what are the issues at the bargaining table that prevent them from reaching an agreement, "Ronen told reporters.

Marriott workers' strike hearing by SF supervisors

The San Francisco workers are among some 8,000 workers who left their jobs at Marriotts' Boston to Honolulu location. Marriott is the largest hotel operator in the world.

Marriott issued the same statement on strikes across the country: "While respecting the right of our employees to express their opinions and participate in protests and this work stoppage, we are disappointed that Unite Here has chose to resort to strike.

"We continue to believe that the best place to resolve these issues is at the bargaining table, and we remain committed to negotiating in good faith to achieve a fair deal for all parties." We welcome any partner who chooses to continue to work, "said the president. statement continues.

The union says workers are seeking better compensation to cope with soaring housing and living costs. They are also worried about new technologies that could replace their jobs.

In the meantime, 200 members of the Oakland Marriott Workers Union reached an agreement in principle, said a union official. Workers must vote on the agreement in principle Friday night.