For thousands of hospitality workers in Southern California, Independence Day was celebrated on the picket line.

Yesterday marked the third day of the largest hotel strike in Southern California History, after contracts expired at about 65 major hotels. Over the weekend, thousands of hotel workers across Orange County, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles walked out of their workplaces, demanding respect from their employers.

Over 15,000 hotel workers — cooks, housekeepers, dishwashers, front desk agents, cleaners, and more — are represented by the striking union, UNITE HERE Local 11. The union consists of those employed by some of the largest hotels, including Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott.

The striking workers have demanded a $10 wage increase to meet the needs of rising housing costs, affordable healthcare coverage, a more reasonable workload, and a fair pension. In a recent survey, the union found that 53 percent of their workers reported moving or planning to move because of soaring housing costs, which have made it difficult for them to afford to live in the communities where they work.

This year, hotel profits have surpassed pre-pandemic levels in Los Angeles and Orange County, they explained. Despite their earnings, which came after $15 billion bailouts during the pandemic, many hotels have not fairly compensated their employees. The city's biggest hotel, the Westin Bonaventure, already agreed to meet the demands of their workers last week.

"They did the right thing and settled a fair contract with their workers," UNITE HERE Local 11 tweeted, hinting that others should do the same.

“This walkout was the first of many actions that may come this summer by workers at hotels across Southern California, and it is only one tool in our toolbox," said Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11. "We have put the industry on notice that the workers have suffered enough.”