UNITE HERE Local 8 Hotel Strike in Seattle Enters 50th Day Over ICE Notification Clause and Working Conditions

Workers at Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, represented by UNITE HERE Local 8, marked 50 days on strike on August 7. The strike began June 18, 2026.

The Demands

Among the union's demands is an ICE notification clause — a contractual obligation requiring the hotel to notify workers through their union if agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security arrive on the property. Hilton declined the clause.

The union is also seeking year-round healthcare coverage, wage increases, and a return to pre-pandemic staffing levels.

The 'nICE Hotels' Campaign

In response to Hilton's position on the ICE notification clause, the union launched a digital billboard campaign it calls 'nICE Hotels' — a play on ICE — with targeted advertising highlighting the demand.

The strike coincides with Seattle's preparation for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches scheduled in the region.

The dispute is one of several hospitality-worker labor actions 411 Press has tracked, including SoFi Stadium workers who reached a new contract ahead of the World Cup.

This is a developing story. More details will be published as information becomes available.