AI Image
Workers at downtown hotels go on strike ahead of Chicago Marathon
ABC7 Chicago • • business
Key Points:
- Workers at six major Chicago hotels, including the Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker and Palmer House, went on strike Friday as the Chicago Marathon began, following unsuccessful contract negotiations.
- The strike is part of a larger dispute involving over 7,000 hotel workers across 46 hotels, potentially becoming the largest hotel worker strike in Chicago history.
- Employees, including room attendants, cooks, and front desk agents, are demanding better wages, healthcare, pensions, civil rights protections, and safer workloads amid financial hardships highlighted by a recent union survey.
- Contracts with major hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt expired on August 31, and despite these companies returning $22.3 billion to shareholders over three years, workers say they have not seen corresponding financial security.
- Marriott stated it has protocols to maintain operations during the strike and remains open to negotiations, while the union warns strikes could expand to additional hotels.
