Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced that the annual State of the City would be postponed due to the ongoing Hilton hotel worker strike.
HOUSTON — Workers at the Hilton Americas hotel in downtown Houston have been on strike since Labor Day, and their determination is now making waves at City Hall.
On Thursday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced that the annual State of the City would be postponed due to the ongoing strike.
Editor’s note: The video in this article is from a previous report.
It’s the first strike of hotel workers in Texas history. The workers have said they want higher wages and respect. They want at least $23 an hour in a new union contract. They’ve been negotiating since their last contract expired on June 30.
“Thank you so much, Mayor Whitmire. It means a lot to know we have a mayor standing up for working people like us. As we continue our strike, we are stronger knowing we have your support,” Hilton Americas-Downtown housekeeper Rosa Leon said.
According to Houston First data, nearly 54 million people visited Houston in 2024. The Hilton workers also want fair schedules, fair workloads and respect.
“As our strike at the Hilton Americas continues, we thank Mayor Whitmire for postponing the State of the City address and insisting that working people be treated with dignity and respect. We endorsed Mayor Whitmire because we knew he’d stand with Houston’s working people, and this shows we made the right decision. We continue to call on Hilton to come to the table with an agreement that meets our needs and sets right the problems facing Houston’s hospitality workers,” UNITE HERE Local 23 Secretary Treasurer Willy Gonzalez said.
Whitmire’s full statement:
“Out of respect for the ongoing contract negotiations between Hilton and Unite Here, I will postpone the September 25 State of the City address indefinitely.
“I urge both parties to negotiate in good faith and reach a fair, reasonable agreement. Workers are essential to our city, and I will always insist that they be treated with dignity and respect.”
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