NEW HAVEN, Conn. — More than 100 workers from Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale have reached day two of their strike, now garnering support from others across Connecticut.
The union members with Local 217—Unite HERE made their way back to the sidewalk outside the hotel at 5 a.m. Friday, and they said they don’t plan on stopping until midnight once again.
Throughout the strike, union members have gotten visits from Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and others.
“You look at the people who work at the Omni. Most of them are New Haven residents, they have families and, frankly, their wages are not that high compared to a lot of other folks out there,” Elicker said, noting he’s not privy to the details that have come out at the negotiating table.
Those negotiations, union members said, have been going on since last November to no avail.
“We want, I want, and they want better wages, good pension, good healthcare, and we don’t want to lose jobs,” said Reyna Ortiz, a waitress at Omni New Haven.
Ortiz and about 124 other union members have been taking shifts since the strike started at 5 a.m. Thursday morning, chanting, beating on drums and calling for better working conditions.
Ortiz said since the pandemic, she and others have been struggling to get by.
“Right now, it’s like I [have to] stretch; it’s a lot of penny pinching. I’m a waitress, so a lot of people don’t tip the 15%, the 20%,” Ortiz said.
During the strike, union members said people hired through a temp agency are filling the gaps inside the hotel. However, they don’t have the same experience as people like Miguel Hernandez, with 20 years of service at the hotel.
“The main person affected right now is the guest. We’re here to give 100% to the guests, but right now, the way things are running, the building is empty and whoever is inside they’re all temps,” Hernandez said. “So, we have seen some guests, so many people walking since 5 in the morning, all the way until midnight, people walking out looking for another place to sleep.”
It’s something union leaders said they don’t want to see, but they feel they’ve reached a point where they have no other choice.
“We’re just looking for a fair contract and the parties are far apart,” said Josh Stanley, secretary/treasurer for Local 217 Unite HERE.
Stanley said the owner of the company is based out of Texas.
Since the workers have been on strike, Ortiz said they haven’t heard anything from management. However, she said that’s not going to stop them.
“I have a lot of faith in the union. The Omni has been unionized for 25 years, so that keeps my faith that I’m still going to have a job,” Ortiz said.
“I think they’re fighting for hotel workers all over our city and all over state. And showing a path of, ‘You can say no, you can say, I need a union and you can organize that union and you can walk it out together when you don’t get to a fair deal until you get to one,’” Stanley said.
After reaching out all day Thursday and Friday, and even getting asked to leave the hotel by staff at one point, FOX61 heard back from Omni Hotels and Resorts. Friday evening, a representative sent the following statement:
"Omni Hotels & Resorts Statement: New Haven, Conn.- Out of respect for all parties, Omni won't comment on the status of the negotiations except to say that we remain committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a contract agreeable to all parties. Unfortunately, as has occurred recently in other markets, the union has determined that a strike is in its interest. In view of this labor action, the Hotel has put in place plans to ensure services are not interrupted and that our guests will continue to experience the genuine hospitality, personalized service and elevated experiences that are the hallmark of the Omni New Haven Hotel." - Tiffani Cailor Torrence, director Corporate Communications/Public Relations, Omni Hotels & Resorts
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Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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