Marriott strikes conclude in Oakland, Detroit

Marriott hotel workers in Oakland, Calif., and Detroit returned to their posts Nov. 3 after reaching agreements with hotel management to end their strike after a month-long standoff. 

The workers, represented by Unite Here Local 2850 in Oakland and Local 24 in Detroit, reached a labor deal this past Friday. Details surrounding the deal, which involve the Oakland Marriott City Center and Detroit's Westin Book Cadillac, have not been disclosed.

Related story: Thousands of Marriott hotel workers strike in Boston, Northern California

This concludes strikes at two Marriott hotels, but they continue at a further 21 Marriott hotels in San Jose, Calif.; San Francisco; San Diego; Maui and Oahu, Hawaii; and Boston, with roughly 7,000 Marriott workers participating.

“We are encouraged by the progress achieved in resolving the strikes in Oakland and Detroit with strong, fair contracts, and are hopeful that similar progress can be achieved in the other six cities still on strike,” D. Taylor, international president of Unite Here, said. “The progress made by Marriott this week in both cities shows that they are able to make reasonable movement, and we are hopeful that soon one job will be enough to live with dignity on at every Marriott in all cities.”

The cause for the strikes include worker concerns over automation, wages, benefits and working conditions. The details of the new contracts in Oakland and Detroit will be shared once agreements are reached at the remaining strike locations, according to Unite Here.

Related story: Marriott's hotel worker strike expands to Hawaii

Negotiations in San Francisco are expected to resume Nov. 12 and 13.

In Honolulu, Mayor Kirk Caldwell voiced his support for striking workers.

“We cannot replace you folks with machines. Machines don't have aloha. Without that, we lose our visitors because we lose our aloha," Caldwell said in a statement.