PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Workers at eight Philadelphia hotels without contracts say the tourism boom expected next year for the Semiquincentennial is in jeopardy if their needs aren’t met.
UNITE HERE Local 274 Chapter President Rosslyn Wuchinich says hotel employees aren’t getting a livable wage.
“People should be able to live comfortably, pay their bills, spend time with their children, save some money, not work past retirement age because they can’t make ends meet, but that is the reality.”
America’s 250th anniversary will bring events, including the MLB All-Star Game and FIFA World Cup, to Philadelphia next year. UNITE HERE Local 274 stated the region may see revenue increase by more than $1 billion. But even in typical years, Philly hotels earn more revenue than the national average.
The union released a report titled “2026 at Risk.” It states that the median hourly wages for Philly housekeepers lag behind the cost of living and the national housekeeper median.
Elected officials, like District 5 Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., who represents parts of Center City that house some of the hotels involved, were at a City Hall rally Thursday in solidarity.
“We cannot have a tourism industry that succeeds at the expense of workers. It’s time to cut the check. It’s time to be respectful,” he said.
Gerald Byers is a 67-year-old housekeeper at the Downtown Sheraton. He says staffing shortages make him feel like he works three jobs.
“I might be a bussman, a housekeeper, and maybe work in the laundry in one day, because we’re understaffed. That’s very difficult, and it’s a lot of stress on my body,” Byers said.
“We love what we do, don’t get us wrong. But we can’t continue to live like this. They got the money, share the wealth.”
KYW has reached out to the eight hotels involved and is awaiting comment.