HotelChatter

A rep for the Hyatt Regency Chicago (Hyatt's largest property in the world) told the Sun-Times:

"Unfortunately, this work stoppage could have been avoided if the local union had accepted the idential wage and benefits package they already accepted from Hilton, Starwood and InterContinental.

It is unclear why the union is refusing to help give our associaties the benefit increases they have earned and deserved....We look forward to a quick resolution to this action so our associates can return to work as some of the best paid hotel associates in the city.”

The complaint, for those unfamiliar with previous instances of Hyatt union worker strikes, is that Hyatt hasn't renewed any contracts since they expired in 2009, despite the fact that other major global companies like Hilton and Starwood have. In addition, many union workers have been replaced with cheaper, non-union, part-time workers, who are then required to do an unfair amount of work (one report specified that these temps have been asked to clean up to 30 rooms a day).

Got a story from a hotel that's on strike? Tell us about it in the comments below!

[Photo: Chicago Sun-Times]