Unite Here, Hyatt Agree on New Labor Pact in Chicago
mimegasite.com 09/05/2006
Chicago -- Unite Here, the hotel and restaurant workers' union, said yesterday it has reached a tentative labor agreement with Global Hyatt Corp. that covers 1,900 workers at four Hyatt hotels here.
The agreement, which workers must still ratify, applies to the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, and Park Hyatt Chicago.
"We are very pleased to reach this agreement with Hyatt," said Henry Tamarin, Unite Here Local 1 president.
Tamarin warned, however, that more labor unrest lies ahead as a result of union disputes with Hyatt over new labor contracts at five Hyatt hotels in San Francisco, Monterey, Calif., and Hawaii. A rally is scheduled for Thursday at Hyatt headquarters here.
The union said its agreement with Hyatt mirrors a three-year agreement that it negotiated last week with Hilton Hotels covering workers at four area hotels. The Hilton workers are scheduled to vote on ratification tomorrow.
Contracts remain unsettled with Starwood Hotels at five properties here, according to the union. Another 11 properties, including the Ritz Carlton and Fairmont, have already agreed to abide by terms of any contract the union negotiates with Starwood, Unite Here said.
The union said negotiations have been delayed at the Allerton Crowne Plaza Hotel and Hotel Raffaello, indicating potential labor unrest at those downtown properties.