Hotel Workers Celebrate Labor-Management Partnership on River Road

WHAT:  Contract signing ceremony at the new InterContinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel. Workers, business & community leaders celebrate labor-management partnership.
         
WHEN:   Thursday, July 23, 2009

TIME:  10:00AM

WHERE:   InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, 5300 River Road, Rosemont, IL

WHO:  Members of UNITE HERE Local 450 – Workers at InterContinental Chicago O’Hare
Bill Biggerstaff, President, Local 450
Peter Dumon, CEO, Harp Group & InterContinental Chicago O’Hare Owner
Graham Hershman, COO, Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, employer
David Hall, General Manager, InterContinental Chicago O’Hare
        
Background

On Thursday, July 23rd the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare will become the latest hotel on the River Road corridor to sign a union contract. UNITE HERE Local 450 and the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare have reached agreement on a collective bargaining agreement covering nearly 100 housekeepers, banquet service staff, culinary workers, and other guest service providers, providing fair wages in line with industry standard, guaranteed significant wage increases, pension, pre-paid legal services, and free health insurance.

In the middle of the deepest economic recession in this country in 50 years, the employer of the hospitality workers at the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare hotel will sign a union contract that guarantees substantial wage increases and benefits, including free health insurance to workers.

"I’m proud to be a bartender at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare, and I’m proud to be part of the union," said Joe Rahman. "With this contract, I have a pension, healthcare for my family, and respect on the job."

His co-worker, Ewa Aleksiuk, said "I work as a Room Attendant at the InterContinental O’Hare. I have worked in non-union hotels. Now I have a union, and I have much better pay and free health insurance."

"Our members are the face of the hospitality industry. This shows what can be accomplished when hotel management chooses a path of cooperation with its workers," said Bill Biggerstaff, President of UNITE HERE Local 450.

UNITE HERE represents 20,000 Chicago-area hospitality workers.