Marriott workers reach strike agreement in Oakland

Striking Marriott employees reached an agreement in Oakland – but they will continue to rattle the drums in San Francisco on the eve of the second month of the strike.

"National level discussions on key issues such as job security have progressed significantly this week. Since then, we have reached a settlement in Oakland, but there is still much to be done, "said San Francisco Hotel at the San Francisco Hotels. President of Local 2 Anand Singh.

Ty Hudson, with Local 2850 of the United Here of East Bay, refused to go into details of the Oakland deal, but said the new contract "would allow people to make a living in the area extremely expensive bay ".

Hoteliers earn about $ 43,000 a year and pay only $ 10 a month for health care benefits for themselves and their families. The strike pay of the Oakland workers was $ 300 a week.

Singh said the next round of negotiations for the San Francisco strikers is scheduled for November 12-13.

"It's going to take a little longer here," Singh said of the San Francisco strike. "But we are committed, we are on the line and we remain strong."

Nearly 2,500 hotel workers quit their jobs at seven San Francisco Marriott hotels early last month. 500 additional workers went to Oakland and San Jose.

In the last four weeks, starting at 7 am, strikers invaded downtown San Francisco to the sound of drums and megaphones, often directed to hotel rooms.

But as strikers made themselves known in the streets, the city's autumn convention season continued unabated.

"We had the busiest fall in our history. In fact, 2019 announces it as the busiest year in our history, "said the executive director of the San Francisco Travel Association. Joe D'Allesandro I said.

Unlike the 2004 lockout in which hotels put 4,000 housekeepers, grooms, cooks and other hourly employees on the street – and had the mayor Gavin Newsom walking on a picket line – the current strike seems to have had little impact at City Hall.

The supervisory board held a hearing Friday, which Marriott refused to attend. Mayor London Race asked Marriott to negotiate a settlement as well.

Marriott did not immediately respond to our calls in search of comments.

"The hope is that it gets settled and everyone can go back to work," said D'Allesandro.

Until then, the drums will continue to ring.