Press Advisory for August 18-19, 2010

For questions please contact Annemarie Strassel at (312) 617-0495

Hilton workers take strike vote

Hilton workers join thousands of other area hotel workers preparing for a strike

WHAT: Strike vote affecting roughly 1800 unionized hotel workers at area Hilton hotels

WHO: Hundreds of Hilton workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 1, Chicago’s hospitality workers union.

WHERE: UNITE HERE Local 1 Offices, 3rd Floor

WHEN: 2-day strike vote spans August 18-19

Vote open to the press on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, 4:30-5:30pm*

Vote results will be released Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.

* Please call Annemarie Strassel at (312)617-0495 for other possible times to cover 2-day vote.

WHY: In recent years, Hilton workers in Chicago and across North America have endured staff cuts, reduced hours, and excessive injury rates. Now Hilton, run by one of the largest private equity firms on Wall Street—-the Blackstone Group, wants to take more away, add to the already burdensome housekeeping workload, and lock workers into recession contracts even as the economy rebounds.

On Aug. 18-19, workers at four hotel properties managed by Hilton are taking a stand to stop the company from taking unfair advantage of the recession. Among those voting to authorize a possible strike are workers from some of Chicago’s most notable hotels -— the Drake, Palmer House, Chicago Hilton, and Hilton O’Hare.

Hilton workers and 6,500 other hotel workers in downtown Chicago have been in citywide contract negotiations since August of 2009. Should Hilton workers in Chicago vote to authorize a strike, they will join more than 1600 Chicago-area Hyatt workers and 1500 Starwood workers, who have already authorized a strike.

Please note: Results of the 2-day strike vote will be released at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 19.

UNITE HERE Local 1, Chicago’s hospitality workers union, represents over 15,000 hotel and food service workers in Chicago and casino workers in Northwest Indiana.

Workers available for interview. Contact Annemarie Strassel at 312-617-0495. # # #