Amtrak workers join Inn of Chicago housekeepers in struggle for a fair contract

Inn of Chicago workers have been without a contract for three years. On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, after learning about the struggle of hotel workers at the Inn of Chicago, Amtrak food service workers of UNITE HERE Local 43 supported workers by staying elsewhere during their layovers.

Amtrak crews regularly stay at the Inn of Chicago, as Chicago serves as a major transportation hub within the Midwest and between the coasts.

“We are directly involved in this fight because Amtrak workers stay at the Inn of Chicago. After hearing about the struggle hotel workers are facing there, we moved Amtrak employees from the Inn of Chicago to other hotels in the city.

Our fight is your fight. We need to join together on more fronts like this because if we stay together we will win. “

–Donald Boyd, UNITE HERE Local 43 Secretary Treasure & Amtrak food service worker

Members of Aviation Committee lead forum and City Hall action to press city leaders to lock job protections for all Chicago airport workers

Today, members of the Chicago Aviation Committee are convening a community forum with religious leaders and hundreds of airport workers to press the City to adopt measures to protect hundreds of jobs in Chicago’s airports. In the next six months, more than 1,500 airport workers in Chicago could be thrown out of work or see their wages cut as the City undertakes a massive redevelopment of O’Hare and Midway Airports. Following the forum, workers and city leaders are marching to City Hall for an action to press leaders to protect airport jobs.  

Community leaders from across the city and of many faiths are participating in today’s event, including Bishop Alberto Rojas (Archdiocese of Chicago), Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward, the sponsor of the “Stable Jobs, Stable Airports” ordinance), Aviation Committee members John Arena (45th Ward), Tim Cullerton (38th Ward), Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), Willie Cochran (20th Ward), JoAnn Thompson (16th Ward), and Danny Solis (25th Ward). The forum is being led by William McNary, Citizen Action Illinois co-Director, and supporters are discussing the future of stable jobs for Chicago airport workers.

“I support the ordinance for stable jobs out at the airport because employees of the airport work hard, travel a long way, and they have families to feed,” said Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward). “We all need stability in our lives. It means strong families, and it means strong outcomes.”

Today’s event  is part of broader multi-year effort to secure a living wage and job protections for workers in Chicago’s airports. More than a year ago, city leaders introduced the “Stable Jobs, Stable Communities” ordinance which would ensure a smooth transition and a living wage for airport workers.  Such measures have been adopted in other major cities nationwide, but Chicago, thus far, has failed to implement such measures.

“I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “My job allows me to be independent and to take care of my boys, which is why I hope city leaders will put in place the protections we need to make sure my job is here to stay.”

Chicago’s hospitality workers live in every corner of the city – supporting local business, religious institutions, and communities. The job crisis in Chicago affects workers deeply, especially as Chicago communities confront challenges such as safety, foreclosures, and education.

National Labor Relations Board: Notice to Members

Contracts settled for 1200 HMS Host concession workers at O’Hare

On Friday, October 19, 2012, members of UNITE HERE Local 1 who work at O’Hare Airport ratified a contract covering 1,200 HMS Host workers. This contract represents a significant commitment from HMS Host to provide quality and stable jobs for airport workers.

After four months of negotiations with HMS Host, workers settled new contracts that raise wages and give hundreds of workers without health insurance access to affordable healthcare. Highlights of the contract settlement include a wage scale that ensures every worker will be making a family supporting wage in the next five years. Additionally, the new contract has provisions that will significantly lower health care costs for all workers, which will enable workers to access health care coverage for as little as $4 a week. An overwhelming majority of workers voted to ratify the contract.

“Between the raises and the new affordable health care options, I can now get coverage that I couldn’t afford before,” said O’Hare worker Tameka Shivers. “I am a single mom with three boys: an eight year-old who has Downs syndrome, a five year-old, and three year-old who is a sickle cell carrier. This new contract allows me to be independent and know that I can take care of my boys.”

Airport workers greet thousands of guests who come to Chicago, but sadly for too long many workers have been living in poverty. This new contract will put millions of dollars into the pockets of working people and Chicago neighborhoods over the life of the contract.

“This is the best contract we have gotten from Host. It’s the biggest wage increase, and we now have affordable health insurance,” said O’Hare worker Boddrick Barnes. “Years ago, I was diagnosed with a heart condition, so having affordable health care is really important to me and my family.”

Hyatt Worker: Why I Support the Chicago Teachers’ Strike

Hyatt workers are strongly supporting the Chicago Teachers Union in their fight for better schools. The fight of Hyatt workers and that of Chicago public school teachers is linked because Penny Pritzker, one of the leaders of the billionaire family which runs Hyatt, is also on the board of the Chicago Public Schools.

Here is Will Spain, Hyatt worker and Chicago Public School graduate, on why he supports the strike:

My name is Will Spain, and I am a Door Captain at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. I’ve worked at the Hyatt for 20 years, and I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life.

As a worker and union member, as well as a Chicago Public Schools graduate, I wholeheartedly support the teachers’ strike for better schools.

I grew up on the West Side of Chicago, and graduated from John Marshall Metro High School in 1989. When I was in school, textbooks were always a problem. School starts in September, and we wouldn’t get our books until February. The lack of textbooks in our schools has been a problem for decades. Textbooks for all students on the first day of school are just one of things the Chicago Teachers Union is fighting for.

The teachers and Hyatt workers, we’re both fighting for the same things. Decent wages and benefits. Equality and the ability to support our families. We’re tired of seeing big corporations take money away from real working people. The schools don’t have books but Hyatt got $5 million to build a non-union hotel in Hyde Park.

Despite the lack of resources, I had some great teachers at John Marshall Metro High School. One teacher in particular who had an impact on me was George Crockett, my history teacher. Mr. Crockett had also been a student at John Marshall.

I remember Mr. Crockett would say to me, “Education is your passport to the future.” He was my mentor, providing me with the guidance I needed to succeed in school. Without him I wouldn’t have made it.

And that’s exactly what the teachers in Chicago are doing today. They are not just educators; they are also filling the roles of counselors, social workers, and even parents. But, they should be able to just be teachers.

That’s why the stand taken by the Chicago Teachers Union is so important. It shouldn’t take 20 years for every school to have textbooks. The 30,000 teachers and school workers out on strike are fighting for better schools, and I’m with them all the way.

Chicago is a union town. All we want is our fair share. If we don’t all stand up as one, then one day the dream of big corporate interests will come true and we won’t have any share.

Better Schools for All of Us: Lunchroom Workers’ Union Supports Striking Teachers

Early this morning, the approximately 25,000 members of the Chicago Teachers Union walked out on strike to continue their effort to create schools – and workplaces – that can provide the best education possible for our city’s children.

UNITE HERE Local 1, which represents 3,200 lunchroom workers in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), stands strongly with the teachers. Though we are not on strike, we will join the picket lines wherever possible.

When the lunchroom workers of UNITE HERE Local 1 reached an agreement with CPS on their own union contract in April of this year, we announced a major success in the workers’ Let’s Cook! campaign to ensure a future of fresh food for Chicago’s kids. The groundbreaking settlement set a course for school meals in Chicago that incorporate the input of the lunchroom workers and respect their skills and experience as frontline caretakers of the kids.

It is now time for the Chicago Public Schools to show that same respect to its teachers – to incorporate their voice, experience, and vision for the future of education in Chicago.

We know that caretakers in the schools every day – be they teachers or lunchroom workers – always hold the interests of all of our children close to their hearts. Their jobs are difficult, but their commitment is great.

“Just like the lunchroom workers, the teachers are nurturers who every day are also counselors, comforters, and mentors to our kids,” said Shay Hillsman, a CPS lunchroom worker and member of UNITE HERE Local 1. She added, “I support the teachers as a fellow worker but also as a parent. They are fighting for educational opportunity for my kids too.”

We are proud to stand together in the schools and on the streets as long as it takes to realize a vision for a better school day for our kids and a better city for all of us.

Hundreds join Congress Hotel Strikers at 9th Anniversary Rally

WHAT: Strikers at the Congress Hotel, joined by hundreds of community supporters and members of UNITE HERE Local 1, are rallying outside of the Congress Hotel to commemorate the 9th Anniversary of the Congress Hotel Strike, the longest hotel strike in American history.

WHO: Congress Hotel Strikers and hundreds of community supporters

WHERE: In front of the Congress Hotel (Congress & Michigan)

WHEN: Friday, June 15 at 4-6PM

>WHY: On June 15, 2003, members of UNITE HERE Local 1 working at the Congress Hotel went out on strike after the hotel decided to freeze wages, refused to pay healthcare premiums for its employees (effectively eliminating employee healthcare benefits), and demanded the ability to subcontract out all bargaining unit work at the hotel.

This year’s anniversary is the first since the rise of the Occupy movement and protesting by working people in Wisconsin.