Dominic Anthony Walsh at Houston Public Media reports striking Hotel Workers at the Downtown Hilton Americas-Houston plan to remain on the picket line through October 12th, marking the second significant extension of a historic labor action that was initially slated to end on September 9th. UNITE HERE Local 23 Lead Negotiator Willy Gonzalez is calling the strike "a defining moment for the City of Houston and whether or not it will be a city that Working People can survive in." The Strike began on Labor Day (September 1st) as negotiations on a new contract stalled. Workers are seeking a $23 hourly wage as well as "fair schedules, fair workloads and respect." Union Officials said Hilton countered with a $17.50 hourly wage offer - a $1 increase from the current rate, followed by incremental increases over time. “The reason I'm doing it is because I make ($16.50) an hour. It's not enough to pay my bills,” UNITE HERE Local 23 and Hotel Worker Bill Guillen said. “I’m always calling one creditor to pay another. I have utilities I have to pay. I have to pay a mortgage. Everything is going up. The cost of living is so high. We're trying to work with the company as much as we can. We’ve had different negotiation bargaining sessions and they just haven’t met our demands.”

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Hilton Americas-Houston workers’ strike extended through mid-October as officials postpone events – Houston Public Media