‘We need a real raise': Workers at Center City Philadelphia hotels go on strike

Room attendants, cooks, bartenders and other hospitality workers have begun strikes at two hotels in Center City Philadelphia with expired contracts.

The strike started at 5 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, with workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 274, walking the picket lines in front of the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, located at 17th and Race, and the Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center, situated at 13th and Race.

Workers are demanding significant wage and pension increases, improvements in health care coverage, and an end to long-term trends of understaffing.

“We need a real raise.” Sheraton room attendant Francine Eason shared in a news release, “Inflation has eaten up our wages. We deserve to be able to take care of ourselves. We deserve to be able to take care of our families. It’s time for these companies to listen.”

Sheraton Downtown is owned by Miami-based private investor Cambridge Landmark and the Hampton Inn Center City is owned by Blackstone Inc.’s real investment trust BREIT. 

Workers report that wages at the hotel have failed to keep pace with inflation, causing many of them to struggle to meet their families’ basic needs.

In addition, workers shared that undertaffing has forced many to work harder and stay longer hours.

“They’re talking about tourism bringing in a billion dollars next year,” said Hampton Inn room attendant Tanay Nibblins, “Without the work we do, there is no tourism. We know what we’re worth. The time to pay us what we need is right now.”

Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown released a statement regarding the strike:

“We are disappointed the union has elected to call a strike, and we are prepared with appropriate measures to ensure the hotel is operational and equipped to welcome guests and satisfy all their needs.

We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that is in the best interests of our associates and their livelihoods.”

UNITE HERE Local 274 represents 4,000 private sector hotel and food service workers who work at the stadiums, airports, and hotels throughout the Philadelphia area.

The union shared that you can visit www.uniteherephilly.org/philly-travel-alert/ for the latest information regarding labor disputes and strikes at Philadelphia hotels.