Religious Leaders Join Hyatt Strikers In Chicago, Host Interfaith Prayer

Citing “the calling of their faith traditions to do justice for the oppressed,” Jewish, Christian and Muslim clergy will join employees striking at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago on Wednesday, according to a press release from the worker’s rights advocacy organization Arise Chicago.

"No faith tradition would ever suggest that people should live in poverty, and the labor movement is the best anti-poverty measure that we have in this country," Rev. C.J. Hawking, Executive Director of Arise Chicago, told HuffPost Chicago. "Ninety eight percent of workers are participating in this strike. I think as religious leaders we're humbled by their commitment, and the very least we could do is stand beside them."

Chicago Hyatt workers have joined thousands striking in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu in an ongoing demonstration against the hotel chain, which hasn’t renegotiated contracts since Aug. 31, 2009 and has racked up 15 OSHA citations.

Henry Tamarin, president of Unite Here Local 1, the union representing the workers, called the chain “one of the most abusive hotels in their treatment of subcontracting” and cited poor working conditions as the Chicago protests grew last week.

The Chicago picket line has been particularly dramatic, with one Chicago location turning heat lamps on protesters during a particularly hot day in July, an act the hotel has since apologized for.

Hyatt representatives argue that the contracts offered by their hotel are virtually identical to ones approved by Unite Here-affiliated workers at other hotel chains.

"The only reason the union has taken to the streets instead of staying at the bargaining table and securing raises for our hardworking associates here is that they are focused on organizing non-union hotels in other markets," a spokeswoman told HuffPo Chicago. "This apparently is just union politics at its worst."

The religious leaders will lead an interfaith prayer service featuring songs and short sermons at the Loop picket line beginning at 11 a.m.

"When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush and said 'Get my people out of those exploitive work conditions,' I believe God forever linked faith and work together," Hawking said. “We're here today to pray that hearts will be softened and minds will be opened and God's justice will prevail for the workers at Hyatt."

Comments

[corwin]

07:29 AM on 09/15/2011

If they want to do something to help workers in Illinois,why not pray God raise the IQ of Dem leaders by 25%.Having an IQ in the low 3 digits could make all the difference.If not,there are already tire ruts in the lanes of '94 leaving the state

[SpookyAnnya]

12:18 AM on 09/15/2011

This is what Jesus would do.

[viking1969]

09:01 PM on 09/14/2011

Finally, Christians putting their faith where their mouth is. God Bless them. If Christ came back today, he'd be chasing the money changers out of the churches, out of the congress and would be demanding healthcare for all Americans. Remember, Christ said, "It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Something the Tea Party, The GOP and all conservatives have deliberately forsaken and forgot.

[corwin]

07:31 AM on 09/15/2011

But,diffidently, I have to point out
1) There is no God,and
2 There is no state supported religion in the US
3)Dems are not ,well, big churchgoers

SO,that kicks it over to logic and thought.Even a worse tableau for Dimmies

[smallpawsdk]

07:05 PM on 09/14/2011

Go strikers!!