About 10,000 hotel workers across the country are striking this Labor Day weekend.

Picket lines formed outside several San Francisco hotels, including the Grand Hyatt on Stockton Street, beginning early Sunday morning.

Picketers were also seen outside the Hilton in San Jose, joining thousands of workers across the country who are striking for better wages and working conditions.

“I work hard, they work hard. Housekeeping works hard. We help the hotel shine,” said Michelle Gordon, an employee at Grand Hyatt San Francisco. “Are we happy to be here and doing this? We have to do what we have to do.”

Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott workers who are members of the Unite Here union walked off the job Sunday morning at at least 24 hotels in eight major cities, including Boston, Honolulu, Waikiki and San Diego.

The workers say their contracts have expired and they have not yet reached an agreement with their hotel chains.

“They don’t want to contribute to their pensions and want us to pay for our own health care,” Gordon said.

San Francisco Mayor Breed visited a car show on Sunday and spoke about the hotel strike and the

The union said workers want higher wages, fair staffing levels and a reversal of COVID-era cuts, saying workers often have to work second jobs to make ends meet.

Dolred Dominuez has been a banquet server at Hilton San Jose for more than 20 years. She says she wants her employer to respect her work and offer her a better contract.

“The cost of living is very high right now. We live in one of the most expensive cities, so we need higher wages,” Dominuez said.

The union is urging diners not to stay or eat at any of the hotels where a strike is taking place. A man visiting San Francisco from Ukiah said he wasn’t affected much by the strike at the Grand Hyatt. He was told management had been hired to keep the restaurant afloat.

“The coffee shop wasn’t open this morning, but Starbucks across the street was. But this just started this morning. Imagine if it were a few more days, things would change,” Jason Vanhousen said.

In San Francisco, picket lines are expected to last for 3 days.

“Dreamforce is coming up in a week and a half. You’re going to have big business here, or people having a conference, you’re just going to have them go somewhere else,” Gordon said. “So this isn’t just hurting us, it’s hurting the city.”