FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 19
CONTACT
Patrick Griffin, [email protected], 773-812-2491
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Signature Room Workers Rally Support to Get their Jobs Back as 95th & 96th Floors of John Hancock Building Seek New Tenant
Restaurant workers deliver over 1,000 letters to owners of iconic restaurant and lounge space from community members pledging not to patronize the space unless the original workers are brought back.
CHICAGO – Today, workers of the Signature Room and Lounge rallied outside of the offices of the owners of the iconic restaurant space on the 95th and 96th floors of the John Hancock Building to deliver letters of support from the community. Over 1,000 former customers, visitors, and residents have pledged they will only eat and drink at the Signature Room and Lounge space if the original workers are offered their jobs back. The former Signature Room and Lounge space on the 95th and 96th floors of the John Hancock building is available for lease.
“I loved helping people create memories and celebrate milestones. We deserve to have the chance to return to work in the space when it re-opens and bring back the spirit that made the Signature Room special,” said Bob Sorenson who worked as a server for 25 years at the Signature Room.
Workers delivered the petition to PGIM, the owner of the former Signature Room space. Surrounded by supporters holding signs that said, “I Stand with Signature Room Workers,” the restaurant workers served hot cocoa to passersby outside of the Prudential Building where PGIM’s office are located, showcasing the spirit of Chicago hospitality.
“This was my second home. I want to continue to do the work I love with the co-workers who are like my family,” said Irene Luna, a pastry cook with 29 years of service at the Signature Room. “Having so much support from former customers, Chicagoans and visitors feels great. I hope whoever takes over the space will listen to our voices,” Luna continued.
The Signature Room and Lounge closed on September 28th with no notice given to the one hundred and thirty-two restaurant employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 1. The overwhelming majority of terminated Signature Room workers are people of color. They worked as cooks, servers, bartenders, barbacks, concierges, housekeeping attendants, bussers, and expeditors at the venue. One third of the terminated workers had served at the Signature Room for 15 years or more. Eight workers celebrated their 30-year work anniversary this past summer.
“Today, the Signature Room staff and the broader community sent a clear message that these dedicated workers deserve the chance to return to their jobs when the space re-opens. To whoever the new operator in the Signature Room space may be, we urge you to embody the true spirit of Chicago hospitality and welcome these workers back to what was once their second home. We will be watching. This City will be watching,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
PGIM is the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global investment manager. The Chicago office of PGIM is in the Prudential Building, at Two Prudential Plaza, 180 North Stetson Street, Suite 5600.
FURTHER BACKGROUND:
On October 2, UNITE HERE Local 1 filed a complaint in federal court against the Signature Room operator alleging a violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, also known as the WARN Act. The Union also filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor. Under the WARN Act, an employer must provide 60-days written notice of any closing or mass-layoff. Per the Act, in lieu of the 60-days notice, the employer must also provide terminated workers with wages, health insurance benefits, pension benefits, life insurance premiums, accrued holiday pay, and accrued vacation for 60 days after the operation closes and workers are terminated. The complaint outlines the Signature Room operator’s failure to comply with the requirements of the WARN Act and seeks backpay, benefits and other relief under the Act.
On October 16, UNITE HERE Local 1 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the operator of Signature Room on behalf of terminated workers. The charge alleges that Infusion Management Group failed to give timely notice of the restaurant’s closure in order to allow the Union to bargain over the effects of the closure in a meaningful way, violating federal labor law. The Union seeks a remedy under the NLRB that includes back pay for terminated workers and for the Signature Room’s operator to bargain in good faith.
Both the Unfair Labor Practice charge and the WARN lawsuit are ongoing.
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.
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.
West Loop Workers Speak Out Against Disrespect at Onni Group’s Emily Hotel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 7
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
West Loop Workers Speak Out Against Disrespect at Onni Group’s Emily Hotel
Restaurant and front desk workers at the Emily Hotel call on owner-operator Onni Group to end disrespect at their West Loop property
CHICAGO – Bartenders, cooks, servers, hosts, baristas, dishwashers and front desk agents rallied with community supporters today in the West Loop to speak out against disrespect at the Emily Hotel, which is owned and operated by Vancouver-based real estate investment firm Onni Group.
A report released today by UNITE HERE Local 1, entitled “Respect Us At The Emily,” details Emily Hotel workers’ experiences of disrespect under Onni Group’s management. Included in the report are descriptions of Emily Hotel management engaging in the following behaviors:
“When my managers used homophobic slurs and other offensive language, I felt powerless to stop it. Today, I know I’m not alone in wanting to make our workplace better. I’m proud that my coworkers and I are standing together against disrespect at the Emily Hotel because West Loop workers deserve better,” said Edson Rebolledo, a front desk agent at the hotel and resident of Belmont Cragin.
“As West Loop hospitality workers, we take pride in working hard to make sure guests have fun, amazing experiences that keep them coming back. But we also want our jobs to be quality jobs where we have respect and dignity. We want to be treated like human beings,” said Caity Gallagher, who works as a server at Emily Hotel’s Fora restaurant and lives in Pilsen.
“I was horrified when my manager encouraged me to use a racial slur. But it felt impossible to speak up in the moment. I felt alone and I was afraid of retaliation. Today, I feel empowered because I know if that were to happen again, I could speak out because my coworkers and I are standing together to end disrespect at the Emily Hotel,” said Tanner Doxey, who works as a front desk agent and lives in Roscoe Village.
While located in Chicago’s trendiest hospitality hotspot, Emily Hotel workers in the West Loop are paid less than union hotel workers in Downtown Chicago. Cooks, dishwashers and front desk agents at the Emily Hotel make over $4 less per than their peers at the Canopy by Hilton Central Loop, for example, a unionized hotel in Chicago’s Downtown.
Of the roughly 60 restaurant workers and front desk agents at the Emily Hotel, 34% identify as Hispanic or Latino and 29% identify as Black or African American. 79% of these workers live in the City of Chicago.
“Emily Hotel workers are taking the courageous step of speaking out to end disrespect in the workplace. Chicago’s West Loop cannot become a true world-class destination while some West Loop hospitality workers are subjected to second-rate treatment. We will continue to stand with Emily Hotel workers as they fight for the respect and fair contract they deserve,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
One year ago, in May 2024, Emily Hotel’s front desk and restaurant workers voted to join UNITE HERE Local 1. Since then, workers of the Emily Hotel have been fighting for a first contract with fair wages, high-quality, affordable health insurance, a grievance procedure and protections against retaliation by management.
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.
The report “Respect Us At The Emily” is available at www.unitehere1.org/emilyhotel.
Virgin Hotel Chicago Workers Find Drug Paraphernalia, Bodily Fluids at Work
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 19
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Virgin Hotel Chicago Workers Find Drug Paraphernalia, Bodily Fluids at Work
New report details working conditions at Virgin Hotel Chicago as workers call for better wages, healthcare
CHICAGO – Today, Virgin Hotel workers rallied outside the downtown Chicago property to speak out about their working conditions and call for better wages and healthcare.
51% of surveyed Virgin Hotel Chicago workers reported finding syringes outside the trash and 77% reported finding blood while working in the past year, according to a new study released by UNITE HERE Local 1.
“A while ago, I was dusting a very high surface with a rag, and I knocked an exposed syringe on the ground. Luckily, the needle hit the rag without hitting my hand. I reported to management who told me that as long as it didn’t puncture my hand everything was OK. Cleaning vomit and blood is not uncommon either,” said Pablo Zavala Garcia, who has worked as a linen runner in the housekeeping department at the Virgin Hotel Chicago since the property opened in 2015. “I feel really uncomfortable about cleaning all this stuff, but I do it to have a job to support my family,” continued Zavala Garcia.
Virgin Chicago workers also face barriers to healthcare. 20% of surveyed workers reported that they were either on Medicaid, County Care or were uninsured and 29% reported that they had medical debt.
“Even though I pay over $400 per month for Virgin Hotel’s health insurance for me and my husband, I still get bills after going to the doctor. It is very stressful. We deal with many disgusting things at work. We deserve better healthcare coverage,” said Bertha Rosales, a room attendant at the Virgin Hotel Chicago who has worked there since the hotel opened ten years ago.
77% of the Virgin Hotel Chicago workers surveyed are women and 97% of those who reported their race/ethnicity are people of color, with 62% Latinx and 29% Black or African American.
The release of the report documenting the experiences of Virgin Hotel Chicago workers comes just weeks after the hotel’s tenth anniversary. The Virgin Hotel Chicago first opened its doors in January 2015 after receiving a Class L property tax break from the City of Chicago, estimated to be worth $6.5 million in property tax savings over 12 years.
The report is available at www.unitehere1.org/virginhotelchicago
Hotel Workers Launch Boycott of Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 6, 2024
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Hotel Workers Launch Boycott of Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown
Chicago Federation of Labor, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council announce support for the boycott during rally & speak-out outside the hotel
CHICAGO – Today, Chicago hotel workers launched a boycott of the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown. They were joined by Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary-Treasurer Don Villar and Business Representative Tom Ryan of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Local 13 who announced their support for the boycott this afternoon outside the Holiday Inn located at 506 W Harrison Street.
Workers at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown make just $19 per hour, which is $6 less than thousands of other Chicago hotel workers.
“My co-workers and I decided to call for a boycott of the hotel because we make far less than other Chicago hotel workers. We work hard and deserve to be able to take care of our families. Until we win a fair contract, I hope everyone will honor the boycott,” said Pedro Raymundo Sanchez, who has worked as a houseman at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown for about three years.
“The hardworking housekeeping staff at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown deserve to earn the same as thousands of other Chicago hotel workers. In this city, we do not abide workers being treated as second-class. We’ll support this boycott until these workers get what they deserve,” said Don Villar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor
“The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council is proud to stand with workers of the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown as they call for a boycott. We will have these workers’ backs for as long as it takes for them to get a fair contract,” said Tom Ryan, Business Representative of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Local 13.
“Workers of the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown deserve family-sustaining wages and quality, affordable healthcare, just as thousands of union hotel workers have in our city. We are proud to have the support of the Chicago Federation of Labor, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, and IBEW Local 134 the as we continue to fight to make sure Holiday Inn workers win what they deserve,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
Housekeeping department workers at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown voted to join UNITE HERE Local 1 in April 2023. The workers are asking the public to commit to respect the boycott and not to patronize the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown until hotel management agrees to a fair contract. Learn more at www.boycottholidayinnchicago.
The Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown is owned by LXG. LXG’s website describes Level Construction as “an expertise vertical of LXG.”
Workers at hotel owned by Northwestern Memorial HealthCare face barriers to healthcare, have difficulty affording basic necessities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
CONTACT
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Workers at hotel owned by Northwestern Memorial HealthCare face barriers to healthcare, have difficulty affording basic necessities
Union’s report finds some workers at the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile have no health insurance, rely on public assistance
CHICAGO – Today, UNITE HERE Local 1 released a report which finds that food and beverage workers at a hotel owned by Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and operated by Davidson Hospitality Group face barriers to healthcare and difficulty affording basic necessities. Surveyed workers include cooks, servers, bartenders, room service, and others at the Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile located in Streeterville. Of the 33 surveyed workers, 85% are people of color and the majority are immigrants hailing from eight different countries. UNITE HERE Local 1 received survey responses from 33 of the hotel’s 49 food and beverage workers in November and December 2023.
Key findings of the report include:
Workers of the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile, joined by community supporters, held a picket line and speak out in front of the hotel today to highlight the need for Davidson to provide quality, affordable health insurance.
“My first child was born in 2023. I have to work a second job to pay for our health insurance. Having another child is financially out of reach because we can’t afford the delivery fee and hospital stay for my wife. It feels terrible that our expensive health insurance might keep us from having another child,” said Andri Mile, who has worked at the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile as a bartender for nearly three years.
“Even though Northwestern Memorial HealthCare owns the hotel where I work, my daughter and I can’t go to Northwestern Hospital because it’s still too expensive. My co-workers and I work hard to take care of the Northwestern community. We deserve to be able to take care of our health, our families, and our communities, too,” said Victor Silva, who has worked as a banquet server at the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile for 10 years.
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and subsidiaries reported total revenue of $8,721,937,000 in the year ending August 31, 2023, and endowment net assets of $338,411,000 at the end of the year ending August 31, 2023.
“Hospitals are meant to be pillars of the community, promising healing and hope. Yet for workers of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare’s Hyatt Centric, access to affordable, quality healthcare is out of reach. These hospitality workers deserve to be able to see a doctor and feed their families,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
The full report, “What will happen to me if I get sick or hurt?: The Story of Food and Beverage Workers at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare’s Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile,” is available at www.unitehere1.org/NorthwesternHyattCentric.
Signature Room Workers Rally Support to Get their Jobs Back as 95th & 96th Floors of John Hancock Building Seek New Tenant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 19
CONTACT
Patrick Griffin, [email protected], 773-812-2491
Sarah Lyons, [email protected], 312-385-0603
Signature Room Workers Rally Support to Get their Jobs Back as 95th & 96th Floors of John Hancock Building Seek New Tenant
Restaurant workers deliver over 1,000 letters to owners of iconic restaurant and lounge space from community members pledging not to patronize the space unless the original workers are brought back.
CHICAGO – Today, workers of the Signature Room and Lounge rallied outside of the offices of the owners of the iconic restaurant space on the 95th and 96th floors of the John Hancock Building to deliver letters of support from the community. Over 1,000 former customers, visitors, and residents have pledged they will only eat and drink at the Signature Room and Lounge space if the original workers are offered their jobs back. The former Signature Room and Lounge space on the 95th and 96th floors of the John Hancock building is available for lease.
“I loved helping people create memories and celebrate milestones. We deserve to have the chance to return to work in the space when it re-opens and bring back the spirit that made the Signature Room special,” said Bob Sorenson who worked as a server for 25 years at the Signature Room.
Workers delivered the petition to PGIM, the owner of the former Signature Room space. Surrounded by supporters holding signs that said, “I Stand with Signature Room Workers,” the restaurant workers served hot cocoa to passersby outside of the Prudential Building where PGIM’s office are located, showcasing the spirit of Chicago hospitality.
“This was my second home. I want to continue to do the work I love with the co-workers who are like my family,” said Irene Luna, a pastry cook with 29 years of service at the Signature Room. “Having so much support from former customers, Chicagoans and visitors feels great. I hope whoever takes over the space will listen to our voices,” Luna continued.
The Signature Room and Lounge closed on September 28th with no notice given to the one hundred and thirty-two restaurant employees represented by UNITE HERE Local 1. The overwhelming majority of terminated Signature Room workers are people of color. They worked as cooks, servers, bartenders, barbacks, concierges, housekeeping attendants, bussers, and expeditors at the venue. One third of the terminated workers had served at the Signature Room for 15 years or more. Eight workers celebrated their 30-year work anniversary this past summer.
“Today, the Signature Room staff and the broader community sent a clear message that these dedicated workers deserve the chance to return to their jobs when the space re-opens. To whoever the new operator in the Signature Room space may be, we urge you to embody the true spirit of Chicago hospitality and welcome these workers back to what was once their second home. We will be watching. This City will be watching,” said Karen Kent, President of UNITE HERE Local 1.
PGIM is the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global investment manager. The Chicago office of PGIM is in the Prudential Building, at Two Prudential Plaza, 180 North Stetson Street, Suite 5600.
FURTHER BACKGROUND:
On October 2, UNITE HERE Local 1 filed a complaint in federal court against the Signature Room operator alleging a violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, also known as the WARN Act. The Union also filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor. Under the WARN Act, an employer must provide 60-days written notice of any closing or mass-layoff. Per the Act, in lieu of the 60-days notice, the employer must also provide terminated workers with wages, health insurance benefits, pension benefits, life insurance premiums, accrued holiday pay, and accrued vacation for 60 days after the operation closes and workers are terminated. The complaint outlines the Signature Room operator’s failure to comply with the requirements of the WARN Act and seeks backpay, benefits and other relief under the Act.
On October 16, UNITE HERE Local 1 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the operator of Signature Room on behalf of terminated workers. The charge alleges that Infusion Management Group failed to give timely notice of the restaurant’s closure in order to allow the Union to bargain over the effects of the closure in a meaningful way, violating federal labor law. The Union seeks a remedy under the NLRB that includes back pay for terminated workers and for the Signature Room’s operator to bargain in good faith.
Both the Unfair Labor Practice charge and the WARN lawsuit are ongoing.