Pasadena Hotel Workers Won’t Be Voting on New Contract After Months of Strikes

[This article originally stated that Pasadena hospitality workers would be voting on a new contract with hotels, but that was incorrect. While thousands of workers are voting on ratification with 34 Los Angeles-area hotels, the Pasadena hotels being struck have not reached any agreement with the union.]

Hospitality workers at several Pasadena hotels, including the Hilton Pasadena and Hyatt Place Pasadena, are not among thousands who began voting Thursday on a new contract after months of strikes and negotiations led by Unite Here Local 11, the union representing the workers.

The Pasadena hotels are not among the 34 properties which have agreed to abide by a proposed agreement.

The labor disputes, which began in July 2023, have been part of the largest hotel worker strike in modern history across Southern California. Workers have been demanding wage increases to keep pace with the soaring cost of living, quality and affordable health insurance, humane workloads, and improved pension contributions.

Pasadena has been a focal point of the labor unrest, with workers walking off the job on New Year’s Eve, just hours before the city’s iconic Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. The union said these strikes were part of a broader strategy to secure better wages and working conditions, leveraging the visibility of Pasadena’s peak tourist season.

Throughout the period, negotiations between Unite Here Local 11 and the affected hotels have been tense and complex. Some hotels have reached tentative agreements with the union, but as of early 2024, the Pasadena Hilton and Hyatt Place Pasadena had not.

The union has accused some hotel operators of refusing to meet new contract standards and has alleged that some hotels hired homeless migrants to replace striking workers, adding a layer of controversy to the dispute.

The strikes and labor actions have garnered significant public and political attention, with local officials and community leaders expressing support for the workers’ rights to fair wages and better working conditions. They have emphasized the importance of hospitality workers to Pasadena’s economy, especially during major events.

The voting on the new contract is expected to continue through the weekend, with results anticipated early next week.

If approved, the contract could bring an end to the months-long labor dispute but will not affect the Pasadena hospitality industry.