What are conditions for Ithaca/Tompkins County hotel workers like?
Pervasive Pain: Most hotel room cleaners experience severe back and neck pain associated with physical workload, work intensification, and ergonomic problems. 91% of hotel housekeepers experience workplace pain. 84% take medication for the pain they experience at work. 72% of room cleaners in a recent study said “chemical irritation of the skin or eyes from cleaning supplies” was also a problem in the workplace. Increased Amenities: Hotels are involved in “bed wars” and adding amenities to a room. While guests love this, the housekeepers are now required to move mattresses weighting 113 pounds eight times to make a single bed. Since the new bedding was put in, hotel satisfaction went up significantly, so have injuries to the housekeepers. Lack of Living Wage jobs The hotel industry in Ithaca employs over 600 workers, mostly in hotels/motels affiliated with national chains like Ramada, Hilton Garden Inn, Clarion, Best Western, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Econolodge, and Super 8. Each hotel s
