Thousands of Chicago hotel workers are on strike on Friday morning, seeking new collective bargaining agreements. The strike comes shortly before the 2026 Chicago Marathon, which takes place on Sunday and is expected to draw visitors from around the world.
According to UNITE HERE Local 1, negotiations for the new contracts ended without an agreement. Most previous contracts expired on August 31 and cover companies including Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott.
The hotels covered by these contracts employ more than 7,000 workers in total, at over 40 properties downtown and near McCormick Place. They include room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk staff, servers and food service workers.
UNITE HERE Local 1 President Karen Kent said workers are being pushed to their limits as the city welcomes runners and visitors. She said the people who keep the hotel industry running are struggling to pay their rent and feed their families.
Kent said Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton returned a combined $22.3 billion to their shareholders over three years. Citing that amount, she argued that the companies can afford to offer fair wages and presented the strikes as a demand for a larger share for workers.
The union believes the action could become the largest hotel workers' strike in Chicago's history. That assessment comes from UNITE HERE Local 1 itself, while the total number of workers at the hotels covered by the contracts does not establish how many are taking part in the strike.
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