Hundreds of workers at the Hilton Chicago and the Hyatt Regency Chicago went on strike on Sunday, October 18, widening a Chicago hotel walkout that began on October 9 at six downtown hotels, according to Hotel Dive, reporting a news release from hospitality union UNITE HERE Local 1.

Source: Hotel Dive — Hundreds of union hotel workers on strike in Chicago (updated Oct 19, 2026)

The two hotels joined the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Palmer House a Hilton Hotel, The Westin Chicago River North, The Westin Michigan Avenue and Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker, according to WTTW and CBS Chicago reporting cited in coverage of the expansion. The strikers include room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents and servers.

A dispute covering 7,000 workers

The larger dispute covers more than 7,000 workers at 46 hotels whose contracts expired August 31, and about 85% of members voted in September to authorize strikes, the reports said. Workers are pressing for higher wages, stronger health care and pension benefits, and limits on heavy workloads, according to the union.

Hyatt's head of labor relations for the Americas, Daniel Dring, told Hotel Dive the company looks forward to continuing to negotiate a fair contract and that contingency plans are in place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. A Hilton spokesperson similarly told Hotel Dive the company remains committed to negotiating fair and reasonable agreements and has contingency plans at the Hilton Chicago, Hotel Dive reported.

No settlement or end date for the strikes was reported in the coverage. Guests with downtown Chicago bookings are advised in the reports to check whether their hotel is on the strike list, which the union says can grow.