Catherwood LibraryILR School

The day before the International Manufacturing Technology Show was set to begin---bringing approximately 120,000 visitors and $221 million to Chicago---Local 1 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union (HERE) won a huge victory in contract negotiations with the representative of thirty area hotels (see yesterday?s WIT). The investment of large amounts of strike funds, personnel and prestige by HERE in the once troubled local, was met by an outpouring of rank and file activism by mostly low paid minority workers whose solidarity and willingness to fight for decent wages and benefits paid off in an impressive tentative contract agreement yesterday afternoon. The four-year proposal raises wages by $1.17 per hour in the first year and $0.70 per hour in subsequent years, and decreases dependant health insurance charges by $55 per month---major improvements over last week?s ?final? offer of $0.60 per hour raises after the first year and a decrease of $40 per month in dependent coverage charges.