Calliope Crawford-Blaine

Workers on Strike Outside Sheraton Hotel

As you may have noticed, there’s been quite a lot of noise outside the Parkway Building this week. On Sunday, October 5th, staff of the Sheraton who are part of the UNITE HERE Local 274 union went on strike to demand higher wages and pensions, better healthcare benefits, and more fair staffing. This strike is the first at the Sheraton and is predicted to last between 3 days and a week. Across from our school, there is food and beverage for those on strike, a picket line, and people handing out flyers with information about their strike. 

On Monday, the 6th, and Tuesday, the 7th, 10th grade history classes visited the strike as a part of their unit learning about unions. Lyla Harel ‘28 says, “It was a really cool experience; getting to talk to the workers at the strike and hearing their experiences. I also enjoyed getting to join in with them and helping a community so close to our school.” 

Students in tenth grade history classes had the opportunity to hold signs, join the picket line, and interview members of the strike to learn more about unions and experience what a real strike is like. “The strike has been quite loud all week, but its loudness is a testament to the fact that Philly has historically been a union town and there has always been more support for workers rights here than in countless other cities in the U.S., explains Anna Gallagher, 10th Grade History Teacher.  “It was almost eerie that the strike happened to coincide with our unit on workers rights, but I’m so glad that it gave our 10th graders a chance to interview the workers on strike and hear about the struggles they face daily in an age of waning support for working class Americans. It’s a special kind of school that lets us interact with our neighbors and community members so personally.”

The strike has been affecting many students and teachers at Friends Select. Because of the loud noise, it has been hard for some students to hear their teachers or focus on homework. Maddie Orr ‘28 says, “I would say the strike has been very disruptive to the learning environment and I’m sure also to any people who might be at the hotel.” 

Some teachers have been struggling with this change. Upper School English Teacher Suzanne Morrison says, “It’s loud, I’m not going to lie, but the drums and the general noise have worked well to set up the opening scene of Macbeth, which takes place near a battlefield, with thunder and lightning. ‘When shall we three meet again?… When the hurly-burly’s done,/ When the battle’s lost and won.’”