Hotel Union Sticks With Longest Ongoing U.S. Strike

Nine years ago on Father’s Day, 130 members of Unite Here Local 1 struck the Congress Hotel in downtown Chicago after the owner—centi-millionaire, (sometimes) Swiss-based global businessman Albert Nasser—refused to give workers the same contract that other unionized Loop hotels had signed. After a few arguments with police (and some arrests) ended in confirmation of their rights to picket, the strike and picketline were well established—far moreso than anyone anticipated.

Congress Hotel Workers Strike Enters Ninth Year

On Friday, outside the front doors of the Congress Plaza Hotel, a group of striking hotel workers were joined by hundreds of supporters marching in a noisy picket line to mark the ninth anniversary of the nation’s longest-running strike.

Congress Hotel Workers Mark Ninth Anniversary Of Strike

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Congress Hotel Friday to support the 60 workers from UNITE HERE! Local 1 who have been on the picket line in front of the hotel for nine years. For about two hours, a diverse group of demonstrators gathered together to show support for the hotel workers strike, which according to organizers, is the longest in American history. The group was joined by local union musicians who provided a celebratory soundtrack for much of the demonstration, and later by hip hop artist Young General, who performed his song “No Justice, No Peace,” written about the striking workers, on a small stage sandwiched between several large “Scabby the Rat” inflatables.

Chicago’s parade of protests

As NATO leaders and protesters head this way, let it be noted that Chicago launched the most imitated street demonstration of all.

Each year on May 1, myriad trade unionists and socialists parade through cities around the world, commemorating an 1886 procession on Michigan Avenue by workers fighting for an eight-hour day.

Revenge of the Lunch Ladies

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how our public school lunch program has been systematically starved of both money and time—to the point that kids now get a median of 25 minutes, and often quite a bit less, to wolf down lunch.

Chicago school-lunch workers win raises

Chicago Public School lunchroom workers will receive a 2 percent raise for at least two years and see a five-year freeze on converting “cooking” kitchens to “warming kitchens” under a deal announced Thursday.

CPS, Lunchroom Workers Reach Deal

A new labor deal could impact what Chicago kids eat at school.

After two months of negotiations, lunchroom workers reached a five-year contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools to serve fresh-cooked food in cafeterias.

“Chicago Public Schools has listened to us,” says Constance Hatchett, a CPS cook.