Striking Hotel Workers to hold Magnificent Mile March
Press Advisory
September 13, 2018
Contact:
Elliott Mallen, 312-656-5807, [email protected]
Sarah Lyons, 312-385-0603, [email protected]
Striking Hotel Workers to hold Magnificent Mile March
Workers to march down Michigan Avenue as citywide hotel strike nears one-week mark
Who: Thousands of striking hotel workers from 26 downtown hotels and supporters
What: Rally and march of striking hotel workers
Where: Rally at Ogden Park Plaza across from the Sheraton (300 E North Water Street), followed by a march north on the Michigan Avenue sidewalk, terminating at Michigan and Oak
When: 1:00PM, Thursday, Sept. 13
Thousands of hotel housekeepers, servers, cooks and doormen walked out on strike at 25 downtown convention and boutique hotels last Friday, and were joined by workers at a 26th hotel earlier this week.
Striking hotels include the Hyatt Regency Chicago, JW Marriott, Sheraton Grand, and Hilton Chicago. Union contracts with UNITE HERE Local 1 expired on August 31, 2018.
Striking hotel workers deserve year-round health insurance, sick days to see a doctor, workloads that keep them healthy, and wages that keep up with the cost of raising a family.
A full list of striking hotels is available at www.ChicagoHotelStrike.org.
UNITE HERE Local 1 Applauds Democratic Attorneys General Association for Moving Fall Conference to Show Support for Strike in Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2018
Contact:
Elliott Mallen, 312-656-5807, [email protected]
Lizzie Ulmer, 269-271-2331, [email protected]
UNITE HERE Local 1 Applauds Democratic Attorneys General Association for Moving Fall Conference to Show Support for Strike in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL – In response to the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) moving its Fall Quarterly Policy Program Conference from the JW Marriott to another location in Chicago to show support for workers, UNITE HERE and UNITE HERE Local 1 applauded the Democratic Attorneys General Association for its commitment to supporting workers.
“We applaud the decision of the Democratic Attorneys General Association to stand by the thousands of hospitality workers in Chicago and move their conference site,” said Karen Kent, President of Unite Here Local 1. “We are proud of our members who are making their voices heard this week in Chicago—and we are proud of the Democratic Attorneys General Association for listening.”
Thousands of Chicago hotel housekeepers, servers, cooks and doormen have stopped working and are on strike for year-round healthcare, workloads that keep them healthy, and wages that keep up with the cost of raising a family. Hotel workers are on strike at 26 downtown convention and boutique hotels. Some of the affected hotels include the Hyatt Regency Chicago, JW Marriott, Sheraton Grand, and Hilton Chicago. Union contracts with UNITE HERE Local 1 expired on August 31, 2018.
“Hotels may slow down in the wintertime, but I still need my diabetes medication when I’m laid off. Nobody should lose their health benefits just because it’s cold out. Full-time jobs should have year-round benefits,” said Q. Rivers, a house attendant at the Palmer House Hilton.
DAGA is the only committee dedicated to electing and supporting Democratic Attorneys General. The committee provides political and policy support to Democratic Attorneys General and candidates in their mission to protect civil rights, promote progress and diversity, fight corruption, and ensure the law is applied fairly for all of those that live and work in America.
This week, DAGA was slated to hold its Fall policy conference at the JW Marriott. After the news of the strike, the committee worked tirelessly with UNITE HERE to ensure that Democratic AGs, candidates, and staff would not have to cross a picket-line and ultimately, they moved locations.
Citywide Hotel Strike Grows to 26 Hotels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2018
CONTACT:
Sarah Lyons
(312) 385-0603
[email protected]
Elliott Mallen
(312) 656-5807
[email protected]
Citywide Hotel Strike Grows to 26 Hotels
Cambria Magnificent Mile workers walk off the job as strike enters Day 5
CHICAGO – Workers at the Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile hotel are joining thousands of hotel workers on strike. Their walkout comes as the citywide Chicago hotel strike enters its fifth day and shows no sign of slowing.
Thousands of hotel housekeepers, servers, cooks and doormen walked out on strike at 25 downtown convention and boutique hotels last Friday. Affected hotels include the Hyatt Regency Chicago, JW Marriott, Sheraton Grand, and Hilton Chicago. Union contracts with UNITE HERE Local 1 expired on August 31, 2018.
Striking hotel workers deserve year-round health insurance, sick days to see a doctor, workloads that keep them healthy, and wages that keep up with the cost of raising a family.
A full list of striking hotels is available at www.ChicagoHotelStrike.org.
UNITE HERE Local 1 represents over 15,000 hospitality and food service workers in the City of Chicago and surrounding area.
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Downtown Chicago Hotel Workers Begin Strike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2018
CONTACT:
Sarah Lyons
(312) 385-0603
[email protected]
Elliott Mallen
(312) 656-5807
[email protected]
Downtown Chicago Hotel Workers Begin Strike
CHICAGO, IL – Thousands of Chicago hotel housekeepers, servers, cooks and doormen have stopped working and are on strike.
Hotel workers are striking for year-round health care.
“Hotels may slow down in the wintertime, but I still need my diabetes medication when I’m laid off. Nobody should lose their health benefits just because it’s cold out. Full-time jobs should have year-round benefits,” said Q. Rivers, a house attendant at the Palmer House Hilton.
“They work us like dogs when it’s busy and then kick us to the curb in the winter,” said Rivers.
Striking hotel workers deserve sick days to see a doctor, workloads that keep them healthy, and wages that keep up with the cost of raising a family.
Hotel workers are on strike at 25 downtown convention and boutique hotels. Affected hotels include the Hyatt Regency Chicago, JW Marriott, Sheraton Grand, and Hilton Chicago. Union contracts with UNITE HERE Local 1 expired on August 31, 2018.
A full list of striking hotels is available at www.ChicagoHotelStrike.org.
***Striking hotel workers and union spokespeople will be available for interviews all day beginning at 5:00AM on Friday at the Palmer House Hilton at 17 E Monroe or by request.***
***Spanish-language interviews will be available at the Sheraton Grand Chicago from 5:00AM until 1:30PM or by request. ***
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UNITE HERE Local 1 represents over 15,000 hospitality and food service workers in the City of Chicago and surrounding area.
Constitutionality of Chicago Airport Security Rules Called Into Question Following Overreach by Department of Aviation
UNITE HERE Local 1 Member Files Challenge to Citation by CDA & CPD
For Release January 19, 2018
Media Contact: Noah Carson-Nelson
[email protected]
CHICAGO, IL – On Thursday, January 18, UNITE HERE Local 1 member Justice Castillo, by attorneys Tom Durkin and Robin Waters of Durkin & Roberts, filed a motion to challenge a citation issued by the Chicago Department of Aviation and the constitutionality of Chicago Municipal Code airport employee badging regulations.
Information on the challenge filing was brought to light today at an administrative hearing regarding a citation under the ordinance in question. Justice Castillo, a 22 year old Starbucks barista at HMSHost O’Hare Airport, was cited on December 21 for not properly supervising UNITE HERE Local 1 union organizers in a secure area of the airport as they cued workers for an upcoming strike; Justice is one of three HMSHost employees assigned to escort union organizers while they talk with union members inside O’Hare terminals. Police stopped Justice, took her security badge, and escorted Justice and the union organizers she was accompanying out of the airport. Justice’s security badge has been returned, but the citation could result in a fine.
A motion has been filed to challenge Justice’s citation and the constitutionality of the Chicago Municipal Code. As the citation was made at a key moment in an ongoing labor dispute, the motion contends that the issuance of the citation was a violation of Justice’s First Amendment rights; and that the citation also violated Justice’s rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The challenge to the Chicago Municipal Code asserts that §10-36-353(B) of the Code is overly vague in its description how employees who escort non-badged persons in the airport must “direct and control” those they are escorting at all times.
“This young woman was caught in the crossfire when she was cited for violation of an ordinance that we believe is fundamentally flawed. UNITE HERE will not be accepting any form of punishment for Justice.” Said Karen Kent, UNITE HERE Local 1 President. “We intend to challenge the constitutionality of this ordinance which we believe infringes upon Justice’s First Amendment rights to speech, assembly, and association.”
While HMSHost workers were on strike on December 21, CDA Commissioner Ginger Evans crossed the union picket line and tweeted a photo from inside O’Hare airport terminal restaurants and implied there was not a strike.
***** VISUAL: UNITE HERE Local 1 members waited outside Castillo’s January 18 CDA Administrative Hearing, wearing emerald green aprons which read “Justice at the Airport” and are screen printed with a picture of Justice Castillo.
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UNITE HERE Local 1 represents approximately 3,700 food service workers at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports, including more than 1200 servers, bartenders, Starbucks baristas, and other restaurant workers employed by HMSHost. HMSHost does not currently have a contract with UNITE HERE Local 1.
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National Labor Relations Board charges Hyatt Regency Chicago over video surveillance practices
Chicago’s largest hotel refuses to disclose information on its technologies used to track workers and guests
CHICAGO, IL – The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against the Hyatt Regency Chicago this week for refusing to disclose information on its surveillance system. Hotel union UNITE HERE Local 1 requested this information in 2017 to determine whether hotel managers have used facial recognition or other tracking technologies to monitor hotel employees.
The NLRB charged that the Hyatt Regency Chicago has refused to disclose whether it has used facial recognition software in the past, and has refused to detail how it locates or tracks specific workers in the hotel. The hotel is required to respond to the complaint by January 26.
“We are very concerned that the Hyatt Regency Chicago has refused to say how it surveils and tracks hotel employees or guests,” said UNITE HERE Local 1 President Karen Kent. “Hyatt’s silence on this matter sets a dangerous precedent for other hotels in the city.”
Illinois state law bans the use biometric data, including a record of face geometry, without the subject’s consent. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that more than 50 lawsuits concerning the use of facial recognition software have been filed in Illinois since June 2017, according to K&L Gates LLP. The report did not indicate whether any of these suits is against the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
The 2,019-room Hyatt Regency Chicago is the largest hotel in the city of Chicago and employs roughly 800 members of UNITE HERE Local 1. The hotel is owned by corn product manufacturer Kato Kagaku Co. Ltd.
Press contact:
Elliott Mallen, UNITE HERE
[email protected]
(312) 656-5807
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UNITE HERE Local 1 represents over 15,000 hospitality and food service workers in the City of Chicago and surrounding area.