Thousands of Chicago hotel workers could go on strike at any moment.
Members of Unite Here Local 1 voted Monday night to authorize a strike; its current contract expired Aug. 31.
“Tourism in Chicago is booming, all while inflation is increasing, and it’s affecting our hotel workers across the industry,” Karen Kent, president of Unite Here Local 1, said in a statement issued by the union.
“They feel the weight anytime they go to the supermarket to buy food, or when they come home from work and are too tired to spend time with their family. Workers are ready to strike because they work too hard to live like this.”
Local 1 represents attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, servers and food service workers.
More than 85% of workers voted to go on strike in the first wave of voting, according to a union statement. The union has been negotiating since June with representatives of 46 hotels. Most are from three major hotel groups — Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton — though there are a few smaller operators. Most of the workers — about 7,000 — are downtown.
Based on a survey of its members, the union said about a third can’t cover rent or mortgage, while two-thirds had their hours cut during the slow period. Meanwhile, 1 in 4 workers took out payday or short-term loan to cover expenses.
According to Local 1, hotel operators Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton returned $22.3 billion to shareholders over the last three years.
On Tuesday, some union members were at East-West University in the Loop, where they could sign up for benefits available from the union if workers decide to strike.
Palmer House Hilton bartender and union member Roushouda Williams said protecting her benefits and having safe workloads is important to her.
The 58-year-old remains hopeful a strike could be averted.
“I think that is always the hope. We want to talk about what our needs are in good faith,” Williams, a 26-year employee of Hilton, said Tuesday while signing up for strike benefits.
Meanwhile, in a statement released by the union, Cassandra Pope, a room attendant at the Palmer House Hilton, said the demands of her job are becoming too much.
“I voted yes to strike because I’ve had enough. They demand and demand, always rushing us in the rooms, without acknowledging that we are human beings,” Pope was quoted as saying in the union press release.
Westin River North room attendant Patricia Davila Garcia likewise said she’s ready to go on strike.
“These companies make all the profit and don’t give us back our share. Living is becoming so expensive in Chicago,” she said in a Unite Here statement.
The last strike by unionized hotel workers in Chicago, in 2018, lasted about a month.
Daniel Dring, Hyatt’s head of labor relations for the Americas, said the hotel company has offered competitive wages and benefits.
“Our colleagues are the heart of our business, and Hyatt has a long history of cooperation with the unions that represent our employees, including UNITE HERE Local 1,” Dring said in a statement. “All employees’ wages and benefits remain unchanged as we negotiate a new agreement. We look forward to continuing to negotiate a fair contract and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.”
Dring said the hotel company has a contingency plan to limit the impact on hotel operations from any possible labor disruption.
Representatives from Hilton and Marriott hotels did not respond to requests for comment.
Michael Puente is a reporter and anchor at WBEZ. Reach him at mpuente@wbez.org.
