SAN FRANCISCO -- After striking for three days, San Francisco hotel workers went back to work Sunday morning and received a cold reception from at least one major employer.

In a statement released Sunday, the Grand Hyatt described the three-day strike as "irresponsible" and requested that the workers' union, Unite Here! Local 2, refrain from activities "aimed at jeopardizing business in San Francisco."

"While [hotel workers] were away, the Grand Hyatt provided excellent service to a full complement of guests each night," said the statement. Later in the statement: "Rather than focus on hurting our tourism economy, Local 2 should direct itself to negotiate a fair contract that takes into account the current difficult economic times.

Labor negotiations are set to resume Thursday, but on Monday afternoon, both sides will sit down with Mayor Newsom for a status report.

The strike came nearly two weeks after their union overwhelming approved it. Aurolyn Rush, who is a telephone operator at the Grand Hyatt and on the negotiating team, told KTVU Thursday that the union undertook the three-day work action to put pressure on the hotels at the bargaining table.

“The bosses are trying to take away our health care that we have worked years and years to maintain,” Rush said.

The union is negotiating separately with each of the 31 hotels where its members work, including those owned by Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and Intercontinental.

Unite Here! Local 2 represents about 12,000 employees in the hospitality industry in San Francisco and on the Peninsula, including room cleaners, cooks, food servers, bellmen, bartenders and dishwashers.

Workers have been without a contract since Aug. 14.

Union spokesman Riddhi Mehta said on Thursday that a sticking point in the negotiations is a proposal by the hotels that workers pay more for their health care coverage.

She said the average worker earns about $30,000 to $35,000 annually and can't afford health care cost increases.

The hotels want employees to pay more because they say health care costs for each employee have almost doubled.

"Four or five years ago, it was about $600 per month," said Richard Curiale, an attorney for Starwood Hotels, on Thursday. "It's now almost $1,100 per month and we have 30 percent projected over the next years. You can do the math on that."

Hotel operators add the economy also is hurting them since occupancy is down and they've lowered room prices.

Five years ago, a two week hotel strike was followed by a two-month lockout and two-year union-led boycott.