Hotel workers strike

Hotel workers at six downtown hotels walked off the job Friday morning after negotiations failed to meet their demands.

Strike demands

Workers seek better wages, healthcare benefits, a better pension, civil rights protections and safer workloads.

“better wages, healthcare benefits, a better pension, civil rights protections and safer workloads”

Strike locations

Workers employed at Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago, Palmer House Hilton, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Waldorf Astoria Chicago, The Westin Chicago River North and The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago.

Marathon impact

75% of Bank of America Chicago Marathon’s more than 55,000 participants travel from outside Illinois.

“75% of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon’s more than 55,000 participants travel from outside of Illinois”

Union survey

32% of workers lacked money to cover rent or mortgage payments in the previous year.

“32% of workers lacked money to cover rent or mortgage payments in the previous year”

Staffing levels

Hotel staffing levels have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, leaving fewer workers to take on more work.

“Hotel staffing levels have not returned to pre pandemic levels leaving fewer workers to take on more work”

Worker exhaustion

Some workers cannot get up to play with grandkids after shifts.

“Some of them can’t even, when they get on the couch, get up to play with their grandkids or to play with their kids”

Contract dispute

The broader contract dispute involves more than 7,000 workers across 46 hotels.

“The broader contract dispute involves more than 7,00:00 workers across 46 hotels”

Strike authorization

85% of workers voted in September to authorize strikes and additional hotels could join the walkouts.

“85% of workers voted in September to authorize strikes and additional hotels could join the walkouts”

Next steps

Union has more negotiations scheduled and is prepared to continue taking action until an agreement is reached.

“The union has more negotiations scheduled, Kent said, and is prepared to continue taking action until an agreement is reached”