Tourists See a Luxury Hotel. We See Labor History and a City That Protects Workers.

"As the clock struck noon on May 7, 1912, the servers at the Belmont Hotel had finally had enough. In the dining room, a waiter stood up and blew his whistle: the signal for hundreds of workers to walk off their jobs and out into the streets of Midtown Manhattan."

"The 'Waiters Strike' presaged what we know today as the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, a powerful union representing tens of thousands of hotel workers across the five boroughs."

"More work needs to be done to protect them and those they serve. Unfortunately, New York remains among the top five states with the highest number of new or active sex trafficking cases and those involving minors."

"New York City has an enormous opportunity at its feet to lead the way on workers' rights. While the current administration in Washington, DC, feigns solidarity with American workers, it has undone workplace safety requirements."

On May 7, 1912, hotel workers in Midtown Manhattan initiated a strike for better working conditions, including fair pay and safety measures. This movement involved thousands of workers from over 50 hotels and marked the first organized industry-wide strike in the nation. The strike led to the establishment of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, representing hotel workers across New York City. Despite progress, challenges remain, particularly regarding worker safety and the ongoing issue of sex trafficking in the hospitality industry.

Read at The Nation