Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Facing Possible Labor Dispute

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Jan 05, 2012, 10:19 ET

Rosemont Hotel Refuses to Bargain in Good Faith with Teamsters Local 727

ROSEMONT, Ill., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The management of Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare could be facing a labor dispute after refusing to bargain in good faith with Teamsters Local 727 over a new contract for bellmen and shuttle drivers at the Rosemont hotel.

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"Management is being completely unreasonable, and their tactics are abhorrent," said John Coli Jr., President of Local 727. "Our dedicated members work hard every day, serving hundreds of hotel patrons while battling the elements year-round. They have the right to a new contract and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."

Local 727 was forced to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Crowne Plaza management for bargaining in bad faith. The union also held a strike authorization vote with members last week due to the ongoing unfair labor practices, and it passed unanimously.

Local 727 representatives are attempting to secure a new agreement for 11 bellmen and shuttle drivers, whose previous five-year contract expired Dec. 31, 2011. The hotel is located at 5540 N. River Road in Rosemont.

Crowne Plaza management made itself available for less than an hour for two of the three bargaining sessions with Local 727 representatives and is refusing to provide relevant information requested by the union in writing. The last negotiation meeting was Dec. 29.

"The union has remained cooperative and continues to make itself available for negotiations, but management simply will not reciprocate," Coli said. "By refusing to bargain in good faith they are sending a message that their employees are not important, and the union absolutely will not stand for it."

SOURCE Teamsters Local 727