In today’s news and commentary, Houston hotel workers ratify a contract, Pope Leo XIV raises immigration concerns with Chicagoan labor leaders, and Kaiser lays off 216 workers. 

On Friday, the first hotel strike in the history of Texas came to an end as hotel workers at Hilton Americas-Houston ratified “a historic contract agreement” with the company. The strike, which lasted forty days, was originally launched as part of a campaign to secure a living wage for Houston workers and led to significant improvements in the employees’ positions. The contract provides for increased job security, improved workloads and safety measures, and a minimum wage of $22 per hour by the contract’s end. “This victory is an attestation to our members’ strength, their will and determination,” said UNITE HERE Local 23 Texas Chapter President Franchesca Caraballo. 

 On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV urged labor leaders in Chicago to support migrant workers as the Trump administration continues to crack down on undocumented immigrants. “While recognizing that appropriate policies are necessary to keep communities safe, I encourage you to continue to advocate for society to respect the human dignity of the most vulnerable,” Leo said.  Just last week, the Pope made similar comments when he declared American immigration policy “inhuman” and not “pro-life.” The message comes as Pope Leo continues his attempt to consolidate support from U.S. bishops on the issue.

According to state filings made early last week, Kaiser Permanente laid off over two hundred people in its California offices in September. The news was unveiled in a WARN notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification), which is a required state filing for companies when they lay off a significant percentage of their staff. The layoffs preview a historic strike set to begin on Tuesday which is expected to see over 30,000 healthcare professionals walk off the job. The union plans to strike over “stagnant wages and unsafe staffing.” Kaiser said it will continue negotiating “in good faith” and expressed that “none of these changes will impact the quality of patient care and services.”