SAN FRANCISCO — Dozens of striking San Francisco hotel workers were arrested as hundreds demonstrated for higher wages and better benefits two months after their contract expired.

The arrests took place around 5 p.m. Wednesday as union members stood in the middle of a busy street following a march that began near the Hilton Union Square, the city’s largest hotel.

Demonstrators wore red T-shirts and chanted “No contract, no peace” while blasting air horns.

Police officers escorted the arrested protesters to a sheriff’s bus parked nearby San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The union, Unite Here Local 2, said in a statement Thursday that 85 of its members were taken into custody.

More than 2,000 union workers sought better wages and improved benefits after their contracts expired in August.

Union members have previously blocked traffic and staged sit-ins during hotel contact disputes in 2018, 2010 and 2005 , leading to arrests, reports Cronica.

Unite Here Local 2 said it has not met with hotel operators that include Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott since August. A Hyatt official told the paper that the union has not reached out to resume negotiations since the strike began last month.

The union said it would scrap guaranteed wage increases and instead tie them to hotel revenue.

“Hotel workers love San Francisco and want to help our city recover,” Lizzy Tapia, president of Unite Here Local 2, said in a statement. “In August, we even offered to sacrifice guaranteed wage increases and make wages contingent on hotel profits, and challenged hotels to match our investments and reverse COVID-era cuts.”

The strike includes major hotels, including the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, the Marriott Union Square, the Palace Hotel and the Westin St. Francis as well as the Hilton Union Square.

“We are disappointed that Unite Here Local 2 continues to strike, while Hyatt remains willing to continue negotiations in good faith. At this time, Unite Here Local 2 has not contacted us to resume negotiations since the strike began,” Michael D’Angelo, Americas head of labor relations for Hyatt, said in a statement.

D’Angelo said the hotels have plans in place to minimize the impact on hotel operations related to the strike activity.