August 13, 2026 at 6:15 am

He Spent Three Years Waiting for a Regular Hotel Position—But Union Fees Have Him Rethinking Everything

by Liberty Canlas

Several servers working at a banquet preparing foods and drinks

Pexels/Reddit

Sometimes, keeping a job isn’t worth the cost when there isn’t enough work.

This worker has spent three years on the roster at a union hotel but has received very little work during that time. When allowed to be interviewed, he showed up but ended up not getting the position. Now, after being told they need to start paying union fees, they’re questioning whether staying on the roster still makes financial sense.

It’s frustrating when a job offers very little income but still comes with ongoing costs. Read the full story below to find out more.

On-call position but union.

3 years ago, I was hired by this union hotel for an on-call banquet server position.

I am the last person with seniority, and through all these 3 years, I only managed to work like 3-4 times the entire year.

I was never asked to pay any union fees. Neither I think HR signed me to the union.

I was more hoping to get my foot to the door to a regular position there.

This man did not get the position and was asked to pay the union fees to continue working.

A room-dining server position opened, and I asked the manager to be considered for it.

She asked me to interview again. She ended up not giving me the position.

Meanwhile, I was contacted by the new HR that I will have to pay union fees to continue working there.

The manager scheduled me for 2 events next week. I really don’t want to pay union fees and make just $40 out of the shift.

I barely get any work. Would I miss anything if I quit?

Three years without barely getting any shifts can be really frustrating. It’s understandable why OP felt that way. Before quitting, though, I think it would be worth confirming exactly what the union fees cover. This would allow him to make an informed decision and weigh the pros and cons of his options.

Let’s see the comments of other Redditors.

This user shares some advice.

Screenshot 2026 08 10 at 1.12.20 PM He Spent Three Years Waiting for a Regular Hotel Position—But Union Fees Have Him Rethinking Everything

Plain and simple.

Screenshot 2026 08 10 at 1.12.41 PM He Spent Three Years Waiting for a Regular Hotel Position—But Union Fees Have Him Rethinking Everything

Here’s another interesting insight.

Screenshot 2026 08 10 at 1.13.13 PM He Spent Three Years Waiting for a Regular Hotel Position—But Union Fees Have Him Rethinking Everything

If you enjoyed this post, check out this story about a contractor who flew along way and spent 3 days on a fix only to find a breaker that needed to be flipped.

And lastly, a quick comment.

Screenshot 2026 08 10 at 1.13.29 PM He Spent Three Years Waiting for a Regular Hotel Position—But Union Fees Have Him Rethinking Everything

Not every job opportunity is worth holding onto.

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Liberty Canlas | Contributing Writer, Lifestyle & Relationships

Liberty Canlas is a contributing writer for TwistedSifter specializing in relationship dynamics, social sciences, and modern family life. Leveraging her extensive professional background in scientific research and data analysis, Liberty brings a highly analytical yet empathetic approach to dissecting viral online conflicts and social media trends.

Rather than simply reporting on internet drama, Liberty uses her deep understanding of human cognition and behavior to explain why people react the way they do. She excels at transforming complex interpersonal debates into relatable, insightful commentary that helps readers better understand human interaction.

Outside of her editorial work, Liberty embraces a holistic, "semi-crunchy" lifestyle as a dedicated homeschooling mother. When she isn’t analyzing the latest trending relationship dilemma, she spends her time meticulously researching and planning her family’s next global travel adventure.

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