Workers At San Diego Hotel Go On Strike Before Start Of Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO, CA — Hundreds of hotel workers at Hilton San Diego Bayfront went on strike Wednesday, just before the start of San Diego Comic-Con.

• UPDATE: Union Reaches Tentative Agreement With Hilton Bayfront After Strike

Unite Here Local 30 called for a walkout early Wednesday morning after negotiations failed and an agreement on a wage increase and other benefits could not be reached with hotel management. Roughly 600 workers represented by the union went on strike outside Hilton Bayfront San Diego, which is located next to the San Diego Convention Center, where Comic-Con will take place Wednesday through Sunday.

The picket line formed at 4 a.m.

"We can't allow hotel workers to continue suffering in a billion dollar industry," said Brigette Browning, president of Unite Here Local 30, a hotel and hospitality workers' union that represents about 6,000 members working in the hotel, food service and hospitality industries in San Diego and Imperial counties. "These workers are ready to fight for what they deserve."

The union said in a news release that it is seeking a $6 per hour raise that would phase in over two years. In formal talks Tuesday, workers came down to $4 over two years, but the hotel responded with $2.50 over 18 months.

Unite Here Local 30 sought to continue negotiations throughout the night, but its offer was rebuffed after the hotel's negotiator left at 10 p.m., according to the union. Although workers have been negotiating for a wage increase and other benefits, management had offered only a 50-cent raise up until this week, the union said.

The union's members voted last Friday to authorize its leadership to call a strike if necessary.

"Hilton San Diego Bayfront is currently in negotiations with Unite Here Local 30, which represents some of our team members, for a new collective bargaining agreement," a spokesperson from Hilton told Patch. "We are continuing to welcome guests and have contingency plans in place to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible. We are confident that the hotel and the union will reach a fair agreement that is beneficial to both our valued team members and to our hotel."