Chicago’s tourism sector is booming, with a record 55,000,000 visitors
to the city last year, and revenue up this year by 10.4% to $1.45B: but
workers aren’t seeing those gains.
Housekeepers continue to suffer a 40% higher injury rate than any other
service sector workers, and hotel staff face seasonal layoffs in which
they lose their health coverage for the winter – as one worker said,
“Hotels may slow down in the wintertime, but I still need my diabetes
medication when I’m laid off. They work us like dogs when it’s busy and
then kick us to the curb in the winter.”
UNITE HERE Local 1 has led a walkout of over 6,000 housekeepers, cooks,
doormen, bartenders, servers and dishwashers from 26 hotels, with
round-the-clock picket lines in a vote that was authorized by 97% of the
membership. They’ve been out for a week.
If possible, don’t stay there. Don’t eat there. LET THE HOTEL KNOW YOU ARE CHOOSING NOT TO DO BUSINESS THERE BECAUSE YOU RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF STRIKING WORKERS.
Me, I’d call up and start the process of making a reservation and then ask if the strike’s been settled. And regretfully back out if they admit it’s not.
Or make one and call back to cancel, saying you just heard about the strike.
(I am not petty enough to do it if I weren’t actually planning to go to Chicago, mind. Plus if enough people did, it’d lose impact because the fact it was all just drama would be obvious, given the numbers. Businesses know, on average, how many reservations get made in a given month or week and via what channel: on line, phone, resellers like Expedia, etc. But I’d enjoy the hell out of it if I were legit going there.)
Also, there’s no obvious place to donate to a strike fund, so funds are sufficient for strike benefits. But if this drags on I’d keep an eye on it, for those of you who can afford to donate and are moved to do so.
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