Chicago Hotel Workers Vote To Authorize A Strike At City Hotels

If you've got plans for a weekend getaway to a downtown Chicago hotel in the near future, you'll want to know about this.

We haven't seen a major strike by unhappy hotel employees in Chicago since 2018, but it sure looks like we could be headed for another one. And this time, it could be considerably larger.

Thousands of workers at more than 40 downtown Chicago hotels have voted to authorize a strike after contract negotiations with hotel operators failed to produce agreements. According to UNITE HERE Local 1, 85% of participating workers voted in favor of authorizing a walkout.

The union represents more than 7,000 employees at the affected hotels, including housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, servers, and food service workers. Most of their contracts expired on August 31st, and the union says strikes could begin at any of the affected hotels at any time.

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Here's What The Disagreement Is About

Workers are seeking higher wages, improved health care and pension benefits, protections for immigrant employees, and safer, more manageable workloads. The union says hotel employees are struggling to keep up with housing and other everyday expenses, despite working in an industry that attracts millions of visitors to Chicago.

Hotel operators, meanwhile, say they're prepared for a possible work stoppage.

The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association says it is concerned about the potential effects on employees, visitors, hotels, and the city itself. The association also points to the industry's importance to Chicago's employment and tax revenue, saying that they hope that both sides can reach an agreement.

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This Is Where The Comparison To The 2018 Strike Comes In

In September of 2018, thousands of Chicago hotel workers went on strike at 26 hotels, including major downtown properties. Their contract fight involved wages, working conditions and year-round health insurance. Agreements were eventually reached with the affected hotels within the following weeks.

This time, the number of potentially affected hotels is greater, and the union says a citywide walkout could become the largest hotel workers strike in Chicago history.

Keep in mind that authorizing a strike doesn't automatically mean every worker is going to instantly walk off the job. Negotiations can still produce an agreement, and hotel operators say they have contingency plans.

However, with contracts expired and thousands of workers prepared to take action, Chicago's hotel industry is facing a potentially significant labor dispute.

And if you're planning a downtown Chicago hotel stay in the coming days, it might be worth keeping an eye on this story.