Emily Hotel Workers Strike Over Unfair Labor Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 23, 2025
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Emily Hotel Workers Strike Over Unfair Labor Practices
Ahead of the dinner shift, workers at the West Loop hotel walked out to protest Onni Group’s unilateral changes to working conditions
CHICAGO – Workers at the Emily Hotel in the West Loop walked off the job this afternoon around 4:30PM on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike. Restaurant workers and front desk agents at the Emily Hotel are protesting management’s unilateral changes to working conditions, including reducing hours, schedule changes and increased workload.
Longer term workers have seen their hours cut and their usual schedules changed. Last month, the Union filed charges alleging that The Emily Hotel, which is owned and operated by Vancouver-based real estate firm Onni Group, failed to bargain over changes to working conditions as they are required to do under federal labor law.
“I used to have five days for week. Now I am a scheduled for less than that. It’s like a slap in the face. I’m the sole breadwinner for my family. It’s been a struggle to keep food on the table with what I’m making. It feels terrible. We deserve better, ” said Tony Tello, who has worked as a server assistant at the Emily Hotel for 3 years.
“I used to work enough hours here to support my family. Then management stopped scheduling our department to work events in the restaurant. Now, I have to work an overnight shift in a factory to make ends meet. I’m on strike today because we deserve to work events in the restaurant and be made whole for the income we have lost,” said Ricardo Nieto who has worked as a banquet server at the Emily Hotel for 8 years.
Today’s ULP strike follows the release of a report last month by UNITE HERE Local 1 entitled “Respect Us At The Emily,” which details Emily Hotel workers’ experiences of disrespect under Onni Group’s management. Restaurant and front desk agents of the Emily Hotel voted to unionize with UNITE HERE Local 1 in May 2024.
Originally branded the Ace Hotel, the 159-room Emily Hotel made its debut in January 2022 following its acquisition by Onni Group. Onni owns and manages over 11.5 million square feet of commercial property across North America.