Chicago hotel workers strike ahead of Marathon weekend
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Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
Chicago hotel workers walked off the job Friday morning at six downtown hotels just days before the Chicago Marathon.
Why it matters: Room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, bellmen, front desk agents and servers are on strike as thousands of visitors descend on the city for the Marathon, with the potential to disrupt a major annual tourism event.
The latest: The strike includes workers at the Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker, Palmer House, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Waldorf Astoria, the Westin River North and Westin Michigan Avenue.
Catch up quick: Contracts covering roughly 7,000 workers at Chicago hotels expired Aug. 31, according to UNITE HERE Local 1.
- The union says 46 hotels either don't have a contract or have expired contracts, including the Ritz-Carlton, The Drake, Mag Mile Hilton, Hyatt, Sofitel and the Westin.
Zoom in: Union members say they want better wages to keep up with inflation, health care benefits, pensions, protection for immigrant workers and safer workloads.
- A 2025 survey by the UNITE HERE Local 1 union found 32% of its members lacked money to cover their rent or mortgage and around 29% lacked money to cover utility bills in the last 12 months.
What they're saying: "As Chicago welcomes marathon runners and visitors from around the world, hotel workers are being pushed to the breaking point while greedy hotel honchos cash in," Karen Kent, president of UNITE HERE Local 1, said in a statement.
- "Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton returned $22.3 billion to shareholders over three years, yet the workers who make this industry run are struggling to pay rent and feed their families. If these companies can afford billions for shareholders, they can afford fair wages for workers. These strikes send a clear message: hotel workers are done being left behind."
Between the lines: The strike could play into the mayoral race as the progressive incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson could take a hit if conventions and other big events skip Chicago because of the strike.
Flashback: The last significant hotel strike was in 2018, when workers at 26 hotels picketed for nearly a month.
The other side: Axios reached out to Hilton and Marriott for comment but did not hear back.