Employees of four Chicago-area Hyatt hotels on Thursday night authorized a work strike to protest their continued work without a contract.
Members of the UNITE HERE Local 1, employed at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Park Hyatt, Hyatt McCormick Place, and Hyatt O’Hare, claim the Chicago-based hotel chain is trying to lock them into a contract that will flatten their wages as the the economy recovers.
The vote does not mean they are on strike yet, but does give the bargaining committee the power to call one if they feel it's necessary.
In a statement, Hyatt said it's disappointed with the move.
"We are committed to keeping our employees working and believe that the most productive place to address workplace matters is at the negotiating table," said spokeswoman Lori Alexander.
Union contracts covering 6,000 workers at 31 hotels in downtown Chicago expired Aug. 31.
