Through Unite Here's Hotel Workers Rising campaign, thousands of hotel workers across North America are rising up to improve their jobs and secure better lives for themselves and their families.

Many hotel workers—largely minority and immigrant women—earn poverty wages and are forced to work two jobs to get by. Others are getting injured on the job because of understaffing and an increase in room amenities like heavier mattresses and linens.

Wages for the same jobs vary wildly from city to city, and workers struggle to make ends meet and keep important benefits like health care and retirement plans, as well as their right to organize a union.

By standing together, hotel workers are sending this message to the hotel industry: We are determined to make our jobs safer, middle-class jobs on which we can support our families.

Hotel Industry and Record Profits 

Why Hotel Housekeeping is Dangerous Work 

My name is Jackie White and I have worked at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis for 28 years—the first 22 as a room attendant. Housekeeping work can be very overwhelming. It’s exhausting to clean 25-30 rooms a day. It draws the life out of you. More about Jackie White  

My name is Margarita Ramos. I have worked as a Room Attendant for 20 years in the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. I thank God for having a Union job. It is as a Union member that I have been able to fight for respect and justice for my coworkers and myself. Our job as Room Attendants is very difficult and requires a lot of physical effort. But as Union members, we have been able to achieve the following: More about Margarita Ramos  

My name is Celia Alvarez and I’ve worked as a Room Attendant at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach for 19 years. When I started in 1990 we only cleaned 16 rooms. 4 years ago Hyatt decided to implement the “Refresh Program” and since then we have to clean up to 30 rooms. Now many housekeepers have gotten injured. I am injured and I have to deal with pain every day. I ask that Hyatt eliminate the refresh program because it is hurting our bodies. More about Celia Alvarez  

My name is Judith and I’m a Room Attendant at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio. I have been a housekeeper for 12 years and have worked at the Hyatt since its opening last year. We clean up to 30 rooms a day. I leave work tired and in pain. I don’t have enough energy for my children or my husband. More about Judith Guevara  

My name is Rosalina Cachapero and I work at the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco for 20 years. We clean 14 rooms a day. Two years ago, I was out of work for 6 months due to a work related injury on my shoulder. It was difficult for my family because my income went down to less than half. More about Rosalina Cachapero