I was honored to spend Labor Day 2009 walking the picket line at the Congress Hotel.  Unite Here Local 1 has been picketing the hotel for over six years, seeking to have its foreign owner agree to the same union contract Chicago’s other large hotels have all entered into with the union.  I joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gov. Pat Quinn, Alderman Robert Fioretti, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, numerous labor and religious leaders and of course the amazing members of Local 1 in supporting Unite Here in picketing the hotel.

A delegation entered the hotel to submit an open letter to the hotel’s management, only to be informed that all of senior management were “on vacation.”  Even though the Congress Hotel is located a few blocks from the 5th District, Ken Dunkin was conspicuously absent.  Ken’s voting record and public statements have made clear that he does not believe that hotel workers should be treated fairly.  Dunkin went so far as to speak out and vote against a bill that would have provided hotel cleaning housekeepers two fifteen breaks and access clean water to drink during their shift.

I can’t imagine a better way to honor the true meaning of Labor Day, than to support the legitimate demands of the hard working members of Unite Here Local 1 in their unfortunately all too long action against the Congress Hotel.

- Dave