Union's letter warning of possible strikes disturbs Chicago's hotel industry

The Chicago Tribune reports:

A hotel union letter sent to 200 people warning that possible strikes could disrupt events booked at five Chicago downtown hotels has raised the ire of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.

"If workers go on strike, customer service could be disrupted. At the Congress Hotel -- where workers have been on strike for over six years -- guests have complained of a lack of amenities, roaches, and poor service," reads the Nov. 2 letter, signed by Jessica Lawlor, a research analyst at Unite Here Local 1, which represents hotel workers in downtown Chicago.

The letter recommends that hotel customers put protective language into contracts made with the five Starwood hotels where workers have authorized a strike if necessary.

"There is a heated labor dispute right now, and we think it is in the interest of customers to know what they're getting into before coming to Chicago," said Annemarie Strassel, spokeswoman for Unite Here Local 1.

Union contracts covering 6,000 workers at 31 hotels in downtown Chicago expired Aug. 31, and the two sides have not been able to agree.

There are better places to do business than Chicago. Just think , this Chicago Alderman used to represent downtown Chicago in Chicago's City Council. He also was a "high ranking made member" of the Chicago Mob who loaded up Chicago union movement with mobsters.