CHICAGO — More than 300 Communist Party USA members joined the picket line of UNITE HERE Local 1 at the Congress Hotel on July 2. The workers have been forced on strike for the past two years.
Jose Gomez, one of the strikers, told the World he has worked for the hotel for five years and still he has no benefits. The hotel pay scale is 30 percent lower than other Chicago hotels. Congress Hotel management wants to cut that another 7 percent. The hotel is offering $8.21 an hour, whereas all the other hotels pay $11.40 for the same work.
The picket line action was held as part of the CPUSA’s 28th National Convention here. The picket line was loud and lively. Participants shouted, “2, 4, 6, 8 — help us negotiate!” “No Justice, No Peace!” and carried picket signs.
Participants were a diverse group — multiracial, multiethnic and spanning the generations. One mom pushed a baby carriage, while a father marched with his teenagers and 11-year-old. From Hawaii to Missouri, from Georgia to Maine, convention delegates from all over the U.S. pledged their support to the workers.
Lance Cohn, a retired teacher and a leader of the Illinois Communist Party, said the CPUSA has been part of the strike support from the beginning. He said visiting the picket line was important to show the party’s solidarity with the striking workers.
Lars Negstad, a union organizer, told the World, “The hotel used to pay wages on a par with other hotels.” He said that the hotel’s “final offer is to cut wages, slash benefits and contract out work” to nonunion members. As a result, the workers have been on strike since June 15, 2003.
Cecilia Silva, one of the strike participants, said she has worked for the hotel for 12 years. She works cleaning public areas in the hotel. She indicated she is striking to get a contract for “benefits, increased wages and for justice.” She said the hotel’s position has affected her “home and family … I can’t pay bills … we don’t go to the doctor because we don’t have insurance.”
Negstad said the owner of the hotel owns garment factories in the Philippines. UNITE HERE has put pressure on some of the owner’s main customers, such as Liz Claiborne and Frederick’s of Hollywood, and they have stopped doing business with him.
Negstad said there is a proposed bill before the Chicago City Council to notify potential hotel customers about the strike before they arrive. He asked for support for this “right to know” bill.
When asked how he felt about the Communist Party supporting the picket line, Negstad exclaimed enthusiastically “It’s great! They are good allies and have supported the picket line consistently from the beginning. Anyone who supports the worker’s struggle is our friend.” He added that the CPUSA presence made the strike a very visible event since there were 1 million people attending the “Taste of Chicago” festival in Grant Park just across the street.
Katie McKay, a seminary student, helped organize the event. She is in a seminary summer program through Interfaith Worker Justice, a religious organization uniting Christians, Jews and Muslims. She pointed out that UNITE HERE relies heavily on community allies and is seeking the support of community leaders. She said the strike challenges management to honor the dignity and worth of the workers.
When asked how she felt about CPUSA presence, McKay declared, “Any ally we have, bring them on!” She indicated the CPUSA “holds a lot of the values we hold … and we’re thankful for their presence. We need people to give more information and help make people aware of worker issues.”
Todd, who is from Michigan and is a Young Communist League member, said being on the picket line was great. “I help the struggle whenever I can. Anytime I can help the struggle, I’m willing to step in. We are here to help get attention for the cause of this strike.”
CPUSA Executive Vice Chair Jarvis Tyner told one of the strike organizers, “It’s good for us, too. It gets the adrenaline flowing!”
Coming back to the convention hall participants said the action contributed concretely and positively to the spirit of solidarity at the convention as well.
Comments