In addition to higher pay the unions seek reduced housekeeping room quotas; better safety protections, including safety committees and expanding the use of safety buttons to more workers; stronger technology protections to guarantee advanced notification when new technology is introduced that would affect their jobs; training for new jobs created by technology; and extended recall rights, giving workers more job security and the right to return to their jobs in the event of another pandemic or economic crisis.
“Daily room cleaning is a safety and workload issue. When it’s been three or four days since I’ve been assigned to clean a room, I’m never sure what I’m going to find behind that door. I worry that there could be a body, a totally trashed room, or a stash of guns like what was in the hotel room on Oct. 1,” said Evangelina Alaniz, a guest room attendant at MGM’s Bellagio and Culinary Union member for 18 years.
“My job got so much harder since the pandemic, and I’m in constant pain at work. When I get home I feel guilty that I don’t have energy to spend time with my son, help him with his homework, or even cook dinner some nights," Alaniz continued.
"Often, I have to go to bed so I have enough strength to go to work the next day and serve the guests. Which is why we won't stop pushing until we win workload reductions, daily room cleaning, and the protections guest room attendants deserve and need.”