Concerned Sista

Congress Hotel Mess

In Chicago, workers have been on strike from the Congress Hotel in Chicago for close to two years. After reading about the horrible working conditions from the ownership of the Congress Hotel, I was appalled by not only the lack of consideration from the hotel to provide decent pay and health benefits, but also by the lack of concern the owners pay to the few visitors if does have at the hotel.

I am afraid, with the apathy from the general American public, this is going to be commonplace. For instance, Walmart's treatment of its employees.

Below is a passage from the Official website tracking the Congress Hotel strike from http://www.congresshotelstrike.info/why.asp.

In May 2003, the Congress implemented its final contract offer, which included a 7% wage cut, no raises for the life of the contract, a refusal to pay increases in health and welfare premiums (resulting in the elimination of health insurance and pension benefits), and the unlimited right to subcontract any job. Under the Hotel’s final offer, a housekeeper working full-time all year would earn only $17,081, while most union housekeepers in Chicago now earn $22,256. A federal agency has issued a complaint against the Congress that will go to trial on May 24, 2004, alleging that the implementation of the final offer was illegal. (Courtesy of congresshotelstrike.info).

posted by GlobalWoman @ 1:02 PM