Hotel workers strike over company’s refusal to bargain and other unfair labor practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 30, 2025
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Hotel workers strike over company’s refusal to bargain and other unfair labor practices
Workers at the Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown walked out on strike to protest company’s failure to negotiate in good faith for over 17 months
CHICAGO – This morning, housekeeping department workers at the Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown at 506 W Harrison Street walked out on a one-day strike to protest the company’s refusal to negotiate. Today’s strike comes after the company has refused to negotiate with workers in good faith for over 17 months and failed to provide the Union information necessary for it to perform its duties.
“I’m striking today because the company has refused to bargain with us for a year and a half. Now it won’t even respond to requests for basic information that we have a right to know. The company needs to stop crying and start negotiating,” said Aurora Huerta who has worked as a room attendant at the Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown for four years.
“The hotel has refused to respect our decision to have the Union represent us in collective bargaining. The hotel needs to follow the law and come to the bargaining table,” said Enrique Raymundo who has worked as a houseman at the Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown for two years.
Workers were on strike on Friday, May 30th and picketed in front of the hotel. Those who are scheduled to work on Saturday, May 31st will return to work for their regular shifts.
“The Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown needs to meet workers at the bargaining table as they are required to do under federal labor law. This disregard for the dignity of workers and the rule of law has no place in our city,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
The Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown is owned and operated by affiliates of Level X Group. Workers at the Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown voted unanimously in favor of being represented by UNITE HERE Local 1 in April of 2023. In December of 2023, the Company imposed changes to wages and working conditions on workers without first bargaining to impasse on those terms. It then walked away from the bargaining table. It has continued to change workers’ wages and working conditions without negotiating with the Union. Now, it outright refuses to provide the Union information about working conditions.
Last June, workers launched a boycott of the hotel, asking the public to commit to respect the boycott and not to patronize the Holiday Chicago Downtown until management agrees to a fair contract. The boycott is on-going. Learn more about the boycott at www.