Hundreds of hotel workers walked off the job at six downtown Chicago hotels on Friday, two days before the Chicago Marathon, as Unite Here Local 1 escalated a labor dispute with Marriott and Hilton over stalled contract talks. The strike affects three Marriott-branded properties, two Hilton-branded hotels and the Millennium Knickerbocker, according to Skift.
The walkout comes just as thousands of runners and spectators descend on the city for the race, putting pressure on hotel operators to keep rooms running smoothly during one of Chicago’s busiest tourism weekends.
Which Chicago Hotels Are Affected
The Marriott properties on strike are the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, The Westin Chicago River North and The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago, Skift reported. Two Hilton-branded hotels are also striking, along with the independently branded Millennium Knickerbocker.
The action is part of a broader labor push covering 46 hotels where more than 7,000 workers voted to authorize a strike. Contracts expired Aug. 31 at 44 of those 46 properties. No Hyatt hotel appears on the current strike list, despite Hyatt having the most properties among the 46 hotels with authorized walkouts, according to Skift.
What Guests Should Expect
Marriott and Hilton have said their affected hotels have plans in place to keep operating, Skift reported. The sources reviewed do not detail specific changes to front desk, housekeeping or other guest services at the struck properties, so travelers with reservations at the six hotels should confirm current conditions directly with the property.
The strike currently covers a narrower group than the full 46 hotels authorized to walk out, and most workers across those properties remain on the job for now. That could change quickly. Local 1 President Karen Kent said more walkouts are possible at any time.
“Workers at any of the remaining hotels could be on strike at any moment,” Kent said, according to Skift. The union has warned that 40 more hotels could join the strike, though Kent declined to say what would trigger a wider walkout.
Why Negotiations Have Stalled
Because the hotels are not bargaining as a single group, talks are happening across multiple separate negotiating tables, and Skift reported limited progress so far. A sticking point involves a clause that would automatically extend union representation to other commonly owned or managed hotels across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa when a company signs a contract.
Core economic issues, including wages, health care, pensions and workloads, have not yet been substantively discussed at the bargaining table, according to the report.
The union argues the industry can afford to meet its demands. “There is enough money in this system,” according to the union’s position cited by Skift. The union estimates that Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt returned $22.3 billion to shareholders over the past three years. Workers say they cannot cover rent, and the union contends that shareholder buybacks come from brand fee income while labor costs fall on owners and operators whose margins are already under pressure.
Hotel operators point to different financial pressures. Labor made up just over half of U.S. hotel operating expenses in 2023, and industry-wide EBITDA fell 2.4% in 2024 and another 4.3% in 2025, according to figures cited by Skift.
What Happens Next
Kent signaled the union is prepared to broaden its campaign if talks do not move. “We’re going to have to do a lot more, whether it’s strikes or other actions,” she said, according to Skift.
No timeline for a resolution or further walkouts has been announced. Travelers heading to Chicago for marathon weekend or other upcoming events should monitor direct communications from their hotel and the union for updates as negotiations continue.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
