Philadelphia hotel workers receive wage increases and additional benefits following a successful four-day strike.

Hotel employees at the Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center have recently ratified a new contract following a four-day strike that took place last month. The announcement was made on Monday by Unite Here Local 274, the union representing the workers, who reached an agreement on Friday that includes significant improvements in wages, benefits, and overall working conditions.

The negotiations culminated in what is being hailed by union leaders as a historic win for the workforce. The president of Unite Here Local 274 expressed that the recent strike serves as a powerful exemplification of the efficacy of collective action, asserting that when workers unite for better conditions, they can achieve substantial gains.

The Hampton Inn workers, employed by HHM Hotels and under the ownership of Blackstone Inc.’s real estate investment trust, are part of a larger collective of approximately 1,000 employees spanning eight hotels within the Philadelphia area. This group has been negotiating new contracts in recent months, with the Hampton Inn employees being the first to finalize an agreement.

The new contract, which is set to extend until January 2028, covers 37 workers at the Hampton Inn. Prior to the contract ratification, these workers were earning per hour; however, as of October 31, they will receive an immediate pay increase to .50. The agreed pay raises will further escalate to per hour in October 2026 and to .50 by October 2027.

In addition to the wage increases, the contract includes enhanced employer contributions to workers’ pension plans, increasing from .98 per hour prior to the agreement to .73 per hour by the contract’s conclusion. Workers will also benefit from a reduction in the number of hotel rooms they are required to clean each day.

Moreover, the new agreement stipulates that healthcare will be provided at no cost to employees, a notable improvement from the previous arrangement in which workers had to cover healthcare costs themselves.

As the labor movement continues to gain traction across various industries, the successful negotiations by the Hampton Inn workers stand as a testament to the ongoing efforts for improved labor standards and conditions in the hospitality sector.