>> Chicago >> hotel workers are growing their picket lines yesterday.

Workers at the Hilton, Chicago and Hyatt Regency Chicago walked off the job.

It comes as more than 7,000 employees at 6 other Chicago hotel say they've been working without a contract since August 31st.

The workers say they are demanding higher wages, increased health care benefits and safer working in conditions.

They say if your needs are not met, more workers could be joining the strikes soon.

Joining us now, our Eileen Brown, a room attendant at the Hilton, Chicago and member of Unite here, local one and unite here.

Local one President Karen Kent.

We also invited a representative from each of the hotels with workers currently or formerly on strike.

But we didn't hear back.

We have received some statements, though.

We will get to those shortly.

Eileen and Karen, thanks to the both of you for joining us here.

Eileen.

As we mentioned, you and workers across 8 Chicago hotels and those hotels range from the Hyatt Regency, as we said, but also the Palmer House Sheraton Grand Chicago and some others.

They have gone on strike.

What is it like on the picket lines right now?

It's crazy out there were fired and for our lives here.

nearby Sean up wish on each other support looking out for one another.

like big family.

We all came together to fight for what we deserve.

What we know.

>> Well, we should be receiving from the company.

What's the energy like?

What are what are folks you and your fellow colleagues?

What are you all feeling?

>> Well, with the coffin and we hope that we can get what we're asking for a way out there we hope the take this to consideration.

We don't want to be out stride, but we we have to do.

We have to do to get what you know, to get what we deserve.

Karen, the first round of strikes began the weekend of the Chicago Marathon.

An important time for the city.

Of course, what it will feel.

That was the right time for workers to walk out.

>> You know, things have gone on for awhile.

We haven't reached agreement.

And I think that's emblematic of for people are at in this moment.

You know, the felt like it was important to demonstrate to the company that they need to step up and come serious.

Nobody likes to be on strike.

The of course.

I mean, how are negotiations going?

Is that a question for care?

Well, is a question for you.

But as Karin better suited to answer that, want to go stations.

You negotiations you know.

Taking place.

And to explain phone call to settlement agreement.

Workers like Eileen and many other people on the committee know what it takes to get an agreement.

They're ready listen to the employers any time.

And we're here in Chicago to do that.

But then players have yet to step up.

What's the status right now?

Are Sessions bargaining sessions scheduled or are who's waiting on who?

>> To make a phone call?

>> Get negotiations have been ongoing, but frankly, we don't have an agreement.

And the fact that where seeing strikes across the city this because you know, the people have not gotten what they need.

People need SEPTA native phrases.

They need to see maintain maintain their health care, be able to retire with dignity.

And frankly, there's been a dramatic contraction in the workforce in terms of how many workers side there and the workload has increased dramatically fewer workers doing more work.

>> I let's talk about that a little bit more because one of your demands is for safer working conditions.

What is it like to work in the hotels right It's extremely are side window and everybody's well, understaffed, overworked, >> every day come with mandatory overtime for us.

Just south of Just won't get the work done.

Get the work done.

>> so tight.

I get home so I can interact with my family.

can barely cook meals because I'm so type of ban a don't mess.

also working in your room attendant.

What most folks we go to a hotel.

We hear from House keeping her.

We will hear from House.

I mean, are you having to serve more rooms Yes, we do.

We have to serve more wrong to give like if a mandatory over time that can be extra limbs that >> except the extra from Pretty much just throughout the whole that's hard to build Every department is on the staff.

We all on this happen >> Karen other demands are for wage increases, better health care benefits, how rising prices and ongoing affordability concerns impacted workers.

>> You know, it is a, you know, a parent that everybody is struggling and we did a survey among sir workers.

Hundreds workers answer that one in 8 are accessing food banks.

One in 3 are struggling to pay their rent or their mortgage.

And one in 4 have talked about using payday loans make, you know, to actually be able to survive.

It's a time that you know, inflation is crushing people really cannot afford.

And I don't think that's just hotel workers in our union.

I think that's hospitality workers across the city.

I think it's working people everywhere.

Who are feeling this.

And this is a demonstration of that.

It's a demonstration of real desperation.

It should be a wake-up call.

>> In a statement to Wt Tw news, Daniel Dring, head of Labor Relations for the Americas at Hyatt wrote, quote, We are disappointed, unite here.

Local one has chosen to strike while high.

It remains willing to continue bargaining in good faith.

Hi does offer competitive wages and benefits and all employees, wages and benefits remain unchanged as we negotiate a new agreement.

look forward to continuing to negotiate a fair contract and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.

And we also received a statement from Hilton where you, Eileen, of course, are are on staff and viewers can read that statement on her website.

You know, Eileen, first, what is what's your reaction to that statement?

Well, if we what we needed, we definitely want to be outside the building strike if they this could be a 1, call.

We didn't want to go outside.

We just know we worked too hard to live like this.

We should have to borrow money from people are going to get paid a lot to make ends meet.

Karen, what do you say to that statement?

>> Yeah, I say that people are struggling.

Tourism is brushing back and we've seen numerous articles throughout the industry throughout, you know, media say talking about tourism here in Chicago.

We can see it on the streets.

You know how many people are coming and what the room prices are.

Every 9.

And frankly, it's a travesty that they have allowed this to go on because if there was agreement that was serious.

People would know it.

Nobody People are smart.

And they know it when they see it and they're not there.

And frankly, it's really, you know, the fact that this has gone on really says more about the hotel corporations and what they think of the workers care and their 46 hotels.

And what with workers without a contract.

Do you expect that if there is an agreement not reached, that you'll have to call on workers from additional hotels to also take to the picket lines.

>> I expect that workers are going rise up and tell us what they need.

And frankly, the fact that, you know, there's been a response like their house.

>> Is indicative of how much pressure people are feeling in money.

You know, it takes one day some of these hotels CEOs make in one day what it would take 2 years for failing to make.

And so there certainly enough money enough business and Chicago's a world-class city from wanted to return.

Then the employer should, you know, dig deeper and show up.

>> Okay.

And Eileen, we know that you've been at the helm for 14 years.

He went on strike for similar reasons.

Back in 2018, a job that you're at that you're sticking