Westin hotel strike continues; CityLab Detroit switches venues

Now in its third week, workers represented by Unite Here Local 24 have maintained their strike at the Westin Book Cadillac, as they’ve seen very little wage increases in recent years. The Westin Book Cadillac is the most profitable hotel in the city, according to the union.

By comparison, workers at the Detroit Marriott at the Reniassance Center a few blocks away make about $2 more per hour.

A spokeswoman for the union tells Curbed that the union will sit down with Marriott on Thursday, and that they’re optimistic but prepared to continue the strike.

Nearly all 160 workers represented by Unite Here at the Westin Book Cadillac are on strike right now.

A Marriott International spokesperson says they do not have any updates to share at this time.

On Saturday, supporters from Chicago and Toronto, along with union supporters from around the region, gathered for a solidarity rally at the Westin Book Cadillac. Nia Winston, Unite Here Local 24 president, said at the rally that the workers deserve a livable wage and that one job should be enough.

Speakers included Representative Brenda Lawrence and City Council member Janee Ayers, who once belonged to the union.

Many of the speakers noted that as Detroit has seen a revitalization, workers’ wages remain stagnant and it’s becoming harder for those who work in the city to live in the city.

Next week, city leaders and urbanists will convene in Detroit to learn about it’s renaissance for CityLab Detroit. The global summit was supposed to take place at the Westin Book Cadillac; because of the ongoing hotel workers’ strike, the summit is moving to the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Strikes continue at Marriott properties across the country, including San Francisco, Boston, Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, and Hawaii.