Workers at Hotels in 3 Cities to Hold Strike Votes

The union representing North American hotel workers has reached “partnership” pacts with two major hotel operators, but workers in Chicago, San Francisco and Honolulu are holding strike votes this week as local labor contract talks stall.

In July, the union announced a five-year accord with Beverly Hills-based Hilton that includes smoothing the way for Unite Here to organize hotels owned by the chain.

Unite Here has a similar understanding with Starwood and hopes that companies such as Hyatt, Marriott and Holiday Inn operator Intercontinental Hotels Group will follow suit, said John Wilhelm, president of Unite Here’s hospitality division.

“I am optimistic that these understandings will result in accelerated bargaining,” he said.

The union, which lined up contract expirations this year in a campaign to boost membership and improve wages and conditions, in June reached a new six-year contract covering 23,000 members at 133 New York hotels. The pact included annual wage increases of 3.5% to 4%.

Unionized employees at six Chicago hotels run by Hilton Hotels Corp. and Global Hyatt Corp. on Tuesday authorized Unite Here union negotiators to call a strike ahead of an Aug. 31 labor contract expiration.

Contract talks resumed in San Francisco this summer, but progress has been slow and Unite Here’s local has scheduled a strike vote for today.

In Honolulu, workers voted Wednesday on whether to authorize strikes at Hilton Hawaiian Village and four Sheraton resorts. Results were unavailable. The contract covering about 6,500 workers at those properties and Waikiki Beach hotels operated by Hyatt and Marriott expired in June.