Workers picket in front of the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Chicago Tonight)
Workers will end their strike at nearly a dozen Chicago hotels after reaching an agreement with the Knickerbocker and Ritz-Carlton hotels on Wednesday. The group has been striking for nearly three weeks and will continue their efforts at 15 other Chicago hotels.
MORE GREAT NEWS! Workers at the Ritz-Carlton just ratified a new contract!
WE ARE STILL ON STRIKE AT 15 HOTELS!
See the full list of striking hotels at https://t.co/IG9BtLfcQ8#ChicagoHotelStrike pic.twitter.com/Kfc7kmxpUz
— UNITE HERE Local 1 (@UniteHerelocal1) September 26, 2018
GREAT NEWS! Workers at the Knickerbocker Hotel just ratified a new contract! Now we have contracts at 10 hotels across the city! #ChicagoHotelStrike pic.twitter.com/oBtgNrvdUX
— UNITE HERE Local 1 (@UniteHerelocal1) September 26, 2018
Workers had been striking around the clock at more than two dozen Chicago hotels following the expiration of their contract. Agreement was reached last week with seven of the hotels; two more reached agreement over the weekend.
The 6,000 workers – which include housekeepers, bellmen, doormen, servers, bartenders and banquet servers – are seeking year-round health care coverage as many lose benefits when they’re laid off during slower months.
Contracts expired Aug. 31 and cover 30 hotels, including the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hilton Chicago and Palmer House. Workers began striking at 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7. (A list of affected hotels is available here.) Contracts with each hotel are negotiated separately.
Contact Kristen Thometz: @kristenthometz | kthometz@wttw.com | (773) 509-5452
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