Congress Plaza Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Congress Plaza Hotel is located across South Michigan Avenue from Grant Park
in Chicago
. After opening for business in 1893, for the World's Columbian Exposition
, the hotel underwent several expansions and renovations; it now features 850 guest rooms and suites.
The hotel is not affiliated with any national chain. It is owned by a Syrian national, Albert Nasser Shayo. Mr. Shayo is Jewish and the hotel’s activities are sometimes reported in the Jewish press.
On 15 June 2003, about 130 members of UNITE HERE
Local 1 went on strike to protest a proposed seven percent wage cut. They continue to picket the hotel in what is the longest strike ongoing in the United States.
Management has not increased its hourly wage offer to meet the norm of other unionized hotels. According to the union, housekeepers in other hotels in the city earn $14.60 an hour. Management has offered $8.83 an hour.
On 16 June, 2007 Barack Obama, then running for the presidency, joined the picket line briefly. He promised to return as president.
Grant Park
Grant Park may refer to:Parks*Grant Park , Georgia, USA*Grant Park , Illinois, USA*Grant Park , Oregon, USACommunities*Grant Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, a neighborhood*Grant Park, Illinois, USA, a village...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. After opening for business in 1893, for the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
, the hotel underwent several expansions and renovations; it now features 850 guest rooms and suites.
The hotel is not affiliated with any national chain. It is owned by a Syrian national, Albert Nasser Shayo. Mr. Shayo is Jewish and the hotel’s activities are sometimes reported in the Jewish press.
On 15 June 2003, about 130 members of UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE is a labor union in the United States and Canada with more than 265,000 active members The union's members work predominantly in the hotel, food service, laundry, warehouse, and casino gaming industries...
Local 1 went on strike to protest a proposed seven percent wage cut. They continue to picket the hotel in what is the longest strike ongoing in the United States.
Management has not increased its hourly wage offer to meet the norm of other unionized hotels. According to the union, housekeepers in other hotels in the city earn $14.60 an hour. Management has offered $8.83 an hour.
On 16 June, 2007 Barack Obama, then running for the presidency, joined the picket line briefly. He promised to return as president.