Hotel Strikes in Mérida Concluded – Workers and Employers Reach Agreement

Labor strikes at two major hotels in Mérida, Yucatán came to a close on Sunday after unionized workers and employer representatives reached an agreement. The resolution was achieved with the mediation of both state and federal governments.

The strikes began at the Los Aluxes hotel on Friday, February 7th, and at the Hyatt hotel the following day. The disputes were resolved after a review of salary and contract terms between the Union of Hotel, Gastronomic and Similar Industry Workers of the State of Yucatán, which is affiliated with the CTM. This marked the first strikes in Mérida's hotel corporations in over a decade.

The strikes, which lasted less than two days, impacted both the Los Aluxes and Hyatt hotels, forcing the relocation of more than 600 guests. A potential strike at the Holiday Inn hotel, scheduled for Monday, February 10th, was averted through the intervention of the federal and state governments.

At the Los Aluxes hotel, union members and employers reached a definitive contractual and salary agreement, allowing operations to resume from Sunday noon. The workers' demands included a 30 percent wage increase, a 60 percent longevity premium, 30 days of Christmas bonus, a life insurance policy of 50 thousand, a basic monthly grocery allowance of 3 thousand pesos, a punctuality bonus of 700, Christmas and New Year dinner allowances of a thousand pesos each, and a 3 percent savings fund.

While the government announcement did not provide specific details, it was indicated that the majority of the union members' demands were met, with the exception of the 30 percent wage increase. However, a 15 percent increase proposed by the employers was accepted. A similar resolution was reached with the unionized staff of the Hyatt Regency Mérida hotel, and operations also resumed on Sunday.

The strike at the Holiday Inn Hotel was successfully avoided, ensuring its regular operation. The agreements reached will be formalized before the appropriate Tribunal on Monday, February 10th.

The state government emphasized its commitment to monitoring the agreements to maintain Yucatán's status as a national reference in legal certainty, mutual respect, and collaboration between employers and workers. The specific role of the Federation in helping to end the hotel sector strike in Mérida was not detailed. Throughout the conflict, the Yucatán hotel sector refrained from commenting, leaving the local government to address the situation.