Workers began their strike nearly a month ago and will return to work at 24 hotels after reaching an agreement with the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Magnificent Mile Friday.
CONGRATULATIONS Crowne Plaza workers on ratifying your contract! #ChicagoHotelStrike pic.twitter.com/W2Y87CRmnc
— UNITE HERE Local 1 (@UniteHerelocal1) October 5, 2018
On Thursday, a handful of hotels, including three Hyatt-operated hotels, reached an agreement with the hospitality workers.
“After four weeks on strike, I’m proud to have a contract that guarantees health care in the wintertime. The workers of the hotels still on strike deserve the same,” said Demetrius Jackson, who works in convention services at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, in a statement Thursday.
Workers had been striking around the clock at more than two dozen Chicago hotels following the expiration of their contract. The strike persists at the Cambria Magnificent Mile and Kinzie Hotel.
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.
The new collective bargaining agreements have wintertime health care and cover about 5,500 hotel workers, according to the union representing the hospitality workers.
Contracts expired Aug. 31 and cover 30 hotels. 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 | [email protected] | (773) 509-5452
Related stories
Chicago Hotel Workers Reach Agreement with 9 Hotels
No End in Sight for Chicago Hotel Workers’ Strike
Chicago’s Minimum Wage is Rising, But is it Enough to Live On?
In Wake of Janus Decision, What’s Next for Public Unions
Report: For Minimum Wage Workers, Affordable Housing ‘Out of Reach’