News Summary
Massive protests among tourism workers in major U.S. cities highlight the demand for higher wages and better working conditions in the hospitality industry. Workers from Los Angeles to New York City are advocating for living wages as the cost of living rises while their wages stagnate. Various unions are leading the charge, pushing local governments to enact laws that ensure fair compensation. This movement underscores the need for equitable treatment in a sector crucial to the U.S. economy.
California – Massive protests have erupted among tourism workers in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Houston, San Diego, and New York City, as these workers demand higher wages and improved working conditions. This nationwide movement highlights the struggles faced by employees across various sectors within the tourism industry, particularly at hotels and airports, where they claim to be underpaid and overworked despite their crucial roles in the economy.
Rising living costs coupled with stagnant wages have fueled frustration among tourism workers. In cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, workers are advocating for living wages and better benefits to reflect the growing profits of the tourism sector. The protests have drawn attention to the economic disparities within an industry that serves as a major revenue generator for the U.S. economy, yet often relies on low-wage positions that do not meet basic living standards.
In Los Angeles, the City Council approved an ordinance in 2025 to gradually raise the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 per hour by 2028, anticipating the influx of visitors for the 2028 Olympics. This decision faced opposition from the tourism industry, which sought to overturn the ordinance but ultimately failed due to not gathering enough valid signatures for a referendum. Unite Here Local 11, a prominent union representing many Los Angeles tourism workers, is advocating for this minimum wage increase to assist workers in affording essentials such as housing and healthcare.
San Francisco has witnessed a series of strikes led by Unite Here Local 2, with hotel workers demanding better wages, job security, healthcare, and improved working environments. Notable establishments such as the Westin St. Francis and the San Francisco Marriott Marquis have been directly impacted by these strikes, with workers rallying for their rights throughout 2024.
In Las Vegas, election success came for tourism workers when employees at Virgin Hotels engaged in a strike in November 2024. Their efforts culminated in a five-year contract that raised wages by 32%, from $28 to $37 per hour. The protests there signify a broader national trend, especially noted in Houston, where a significant strike took place in 2025 at Hilton Americas-Houston. Workers demanded a wage of $23 per hour as part of a larger push for equitable compensation in the hospitality sector.
San Diego saw its City Council committee voting in early 2025 to support a proposal geared towards increasing the minimum wage for hotel and event center workers to $25 per hour, a move designed to address the high onset cost of living. Meanwhile, tourism workers in New York City protested in May 2025 at The Surrey Hotel during the Met Gala, seeking reemployment following layoffs that occurred due to a change in the establishment’s ownership.
The call for fair wages and improved conditions among tourism workers extends beyond these cities, as demonstrations are also unfolding in Boston, Seattle, and San Jose, pointing to a national struggle for the rights and equitable treatment of workers within this essential sector.
Given the pandemic’s impact on the tourism industry, a critical evaluation of workers’ conditions is timely, echoing demands for fairness, equity, and dignity from individuals who form the backbone of the tourism industry. Policymakers and business leaders are urged to heed these growing grievances and work proactively to ensure fair compensation and conditions as the industry steadily recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Travel and Tour World: Los Angeles Joins Protests for Wages
- Wikipedia: Income Inequality in the United States
- NBC Los Angeles: Tourism Protests in Los Angeles
- Google Search: Los Angeles tourism protests
- Travel Weekly: Impact of Immigration Protests
- Google Scholar: Los Angeles labor protests
- ABC7: Protests at Los Angeles International Airport
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Labor Union
- Skift: Immigration Protests Affecting Travel Plans
- Google News: California tourism protests
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
NEW YORK STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYork.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
