Thousands of SF Bay Area contract workers in areas like hospitality and sanitation have gathered in recent weeks to demand liveable wages, more affordable healthcare options, and a pullback on hiring freezes from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a society rife with capitalism, one’s greater worth is tied to their fiscal productivity; it’s an unfair truth that has only superficially deep bearings. In high-cost-of-living (HCL) areas, the pay for that production is often disproportionate to living wages. (The present federal minimum wage — which has remained unchanged at $7.25 since July 2009 — is too low to completely pay for all monthly essentials in any part of the country.)
San Francisco and Oakland are among the most expensive HCL areas in the country, requiring at least a “living wage” of $26 an hour; no SF Bay Area metro has a minimum wage anywhere near that amount; San Francisco has the highest minimum wage at $16.51.
As a result, the SF Bay Area is an epicenter for grassroots labor unionization and wage increase efforts, particularly among hospitality and airport workers. Case in point: There are now over 2,000 hotel workers on strike in San Francisco, and the Oakland International Airport has seen dozens rally since Thanksgiving Day.
Union workers at Oakland International Airport, the airport having been barred from updating its moniker to resemble that of the San Francisco International Airport, had a rally outside the terminals, pleading for wage increases. The majority of the airport workers and airline contractors are making far below livable wages; Juana Ramirez, an airplane cabin cleaner, told KTVU 2 that her wages have stayed stagnant at $21 an hour for the past five years, despite record-high inflation rates.
Another airline contractor, Marta Chavez, has been working as a cabin clear for over 25 years — and still makes $23 hourly wage. On her income, Chavez says it’s impossible to support her family on her income alone.
Across the San Francisco Bay in SF, hotel union workers have been on strike for months now, advocating for a living wage and workers’ protections. (Thanksgiving Day was actually the 68th day hotel workers have been on strike in San Francisco.) Multiple news outlets have reported the unions representing these hotel employees — people in occupations such as housekeeping, bell-hoping, cooking, serving, etc. — expired at the end of August.
The SF-based workers’ union Local 2 now says more than 2,500 contracted hotel workers are on strike as of November 29th — a 500-person increase from last week. Workers’ current demands include “better wages, affordable health care, and the restoration of jobs cut made during the pandemic,” per Local 2. Picket lines are running around the clock at SF hotels like Hyatt San Francisco Union Square Hilton. San Francisco Union Square Palace Hotel, San Francisco Marriott Union Square Westin St. Francis, and others.
All of these picketed hotels remain open and, as of publishing, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriot are in negotiations with unions represented by staffed contractors to finalize contracts.
The California Academy of Sciences recently dissolved its Youth Action for the Planet program after members were found in support of museum workers unionizing — a banding that would’ve seen better wages and more affordable healthcare for Cal Academy staff. The culture center’s actions show exactly why these workers’ rights strikes deserve your attention. And support.
Feature Image: Instagram via Local 2
