Police in San Francisco confirmed that dozens of striking hotel workers were arrested Wednesday evening during a demonstration near Union Square.   

According to both the workers’ union and police, 85 striking hotel workers and supporters were arrested for blocking traffic on the cable car tracks on Powell Street. 

Throngs of demonstrators blocked streets by Union Square, effectively shutting down Powell Street between Geary Boulevard and O’Farrell street. The street was jammed with protesters carrying signs that read “Bet on SF” and chanting “no contract, no peace.”   

The striking workers are from the San Francisco Marriott Union Square, the Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square, and the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.  

Police said that at about 4 p.m., multiple demonstrators sat down in the middle of the street in an “attempt to block traffic.”  

By 5:30 p.m., police gave a dispersal order to all protesters sitting in the street, which they did not follow.

“Officers developed and coordinated a strategic plan to detain multiple individuals for potential arrest,” said SFPD in an email Wednesday night. “Officers developed probable cause to arrest 85 suspects who refused to comply.” 

Police busses lined up to hold the dozens of arrestees.  

The protestors called for a new contract and better wages, affordable health care and the restoration of jobs cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Striking hotel workers representing housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, servers, doormen, bellhops and more demonstrated near Union Square in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2024. (UniteHereLocal2 via BCN)

Striking hotel workers representing housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, servers, doormen, bellhops and more demonstrated near Union Square in San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2024. (UniteHereLocal2 via BCN)

The workers are represented by Unite Here Local 2 and have been on strike since September.  

The ongoing strike includes 2,000 housekeepers, bellhops, cooks, dishwashers, doormen, servers and bartenders, according to the union. 

A total of 84 demonstrators were arrested, cited and released for obstruction of free movement, police said. One person was cited and released at the scene.  

Note to readers: This story has been updated to reflect confirmation from San Francisco police on the number of hotel workers arrested.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.