More than 100 Embassy Suites employees will soon vote whether to authorize a strike, which could begin any time.
SEATTLE — About 113 union workers at a busy hotel near Lumen Field could go on strike right before massive crowds are expected to arrive in Seattle for the FIFA World Cup, when more than 750,000 visitors are expected in the city.
“This is when everyone is at the hotel, this is when it hurts the most to have a strike,” said Hayden Eyerly, a front desk employee.
The contract between the Embassy Suites employees, represented by Unite Here Local 8, and parent company Hilton expired May 31. Workers informed management they will vote whether to authorize a strike on Friday, June 5.
“We’re very serious,” said Eyerly. “We’re hoping it doesn’t actually lead to that point. We’re hoping to actually have a good faith conversation about the demands we’re trying to meet, but if we do, we’re all in it together and will support each other no matter what.”
If union members vote to strike, it could begin at any time, including during World Cup matches, union leadership said.
Contract negotiations began March 2. Hilton’s current offer is less than one dollar a year in raises over five years, a union researcher told KING 5. By comparison, workers at a Seattle-area Hilton property who went on strike last year secured more than double that.
Workers are also seeking protections from ICE on the property — a demand that Hilton has rejected, union leaders said.
The majority of Local 8 members are immigrants.
“We all care about our coworkers and that includes potentially having more safeguards with ICE and their activities in our area and their potential proximity to events during FIFA,” said Eyerly.
Workers are also seeking better wages, improved healthcare, and a return to pre-pandemic staffing levels.
“We’re all feeling overworked and understaffed,” Eyerly said. “We’re fighting for fair workloads and reasonable staffing levels.”
KING 5 has reached out to Hilton and the local Embassy Suites hotel for comment.
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