Dominic Anthony Walsh/Houston Public Media
Willy Gonzalez and other members of UNITE HERE Local 23, which represents workers at the George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas-Houston, stand in front of Houston City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.
On the heels of a historic 40-day strike that led to wage hikes for workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston in October, about 100 food and beverage workers at the neighboring George R. Brown Convention Center ratified a new contract carrying 25% raises on Thursday.
The union members of UNITE HERE Local 23 reached the agreement with Levy Premium Food Services without going on strike.
“I would say it’s historic, and it’s a big victory for them,” union president Franchesca Caraballo told Houston Public Media.
The agreement raises the wage floor from $16 to $20 per hour followed by $2 in incremental raises over the three-year contract. The contract mirrors the one reached by about 400 Hilton workers after their 40-day strike ended Oct. 10.
Server Adriana Rodriguez, whose hourly wage will eventually increase from $19 to $24, said through a translator the convention center workers are “very happy and very content.”
“I will be able to cover my family’s basic needs and also spend time with them,” she added. “Thanks to the precedent of Hilton, that helped us to get a good contract, and it made things easier.”
While the workers negotiated with Levy — which did not comment on the deal — the company contracts with municipal corporation Houston First, the operator of the city-owned convention center.
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In a statement, Houston First president and CEO Michael Heckman said the corporation “applauds the successful negotiation between Levy and Unite Here Local 23, resulting in a new collective bargaining agreement for food services workers at the George R. Brown Convention Center.”
“We believe the outcome strikes an important balance between maintaining industry competitiveness and supporting a strong, stable workforce,” Heckman added. “We commend both parties for their commitment to negotiating in good faith to reach a favorable resolution.”
Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
The George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston on March 2, 2020.
A spokesperson confirmed the agreement will only affect Houston First’s bottom line because of the fee-based financial arrangement with Levy in which all revenue and expenses flow to Houston First. The same structure governs the flow of money at the Hilton hotel, which prompted union officials to ramp up pressure on Houston First over the course of the 40-day strike in September and October.
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Houston City Council member Joaquin Martinez’s district includes the hotel and convention center, giving him a non-voting seat on the Houston First board.
“When you think about the 40 days that UNITE HERE had to withstand (on the Hilton picket line), people recognize that it’s serious conversations, ‘We’re not going to just sit by and think that you’re going to be able to wait us out,’ ” Martinez said. “The work that was done really laid the foundation for the GRB food and beverage workers. And in this case, Houston First was more involved with these conversations. So, you know, George R. Brown is something that Houston First runs, and so it was good to make sure that Houston First was on board as well.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Houston First said the municipal corporation was “not a party to the negotiations between Levy and Unite Here Local 23, but we commend both parties for their commitment to negotiating in good faith to reach a favorable resolution.”
The Hilton and Levy agreements came as about 350 union workers at the nearby Marriott Maquis prepared to negotiate after their contract expired on Oct. 1. Another 600 UNITE HERE dining and retail workers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport will head to the bargaining table after their contract expires Dec. 1.
“The Hilton fight definitely set a new precedent for hospitality workers,” Caraballo said. “Workers are definitely inspired by the fight and what they were able to gain. … I think workers are looking at it, like, ‘OK, well that’s the new standard. So we’re not going to accept anything less.’ “