Chicago Hotel Strike Hits Marriott and Hilton Hotels During Marathon Weekend

October 9th, 2026 at 6:44 PM EDT Photo Credit: Image of members of a hotel union in Chicago on strike in front of the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel on October 9, 2026. UNITE HERE Local 1 Hundreds of union workers walked out of six downtown Chicago hotels Friday, two days before the Chicago Marathon, and their union warned that 40 more hotels could follow. The strike, called by Unite Here Local 1, is far narrower than the one members authorized. More than 7,000 workers at 46 hotels voted last month to authorize a walkout. Contracts expired at 44 of them on August 31, and the other two also lack one. Most workers are still on the job. Local 1 President Karen Kent declined to say what would trigger a wider walkout. "We're going to have to do a lot more, whether it's strikes or other actions," she told Skift. Workers at any of the remaining hotels "could be on strike at any moment," she said. Six Hotels, Three Companies The strike list names three Marriott-branded hotels, two Hilton-branded hotels, and one Millennium property: Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk The Westin Chicago River North The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicag Sean reports on the hotel industry. He's based in Washington, D.C., near Marriott's and Hilton's headquarters. Send scoops.