ADVISORY/18 Days Into the Strike, Congress Strikers Collect First Check; Chicago, Philippines Workers Rally Against Chairman Albert Nasser.

Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (July 2)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:   Congress Strikers collect their first strike benefit check;
        International labor acts in solidarity against same principal

WHO:    Congress Hotel Strikers -- Hotel Employees & Restaurant
        Employees (HERE) Union Local 1, joined by Chicago Federation
        of Labor and Illinois AFL-CIO affiliates; and United Workers
        of Gelmart in the Philippines

WHERE:  Congress Hotel picket line, 520 S. Michigan Ave.

DATE:   Wednesday, July 2

TIME:   Checks distributed 10:00 a.m.;
        Labor Rally 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

On the 18th day of the Congress Hotel strike, workers will receive their first strike benefit check. Strikers will line up to receive their checks at 10:00 a.m. Strikers who have participated in the picket line at least 25 hours a week will receive $200 per week. Half comes from the strike fund of the union's parent body, the HERE International Union, and half from the Local 1 strike fund.

Then, on Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., the strikers will be joined by hundreds of construction workers, electricians, grocery clerks, janitors, laundry and textile workers, letter carriers, musicians, painters, public employees, teachers and teamsters, as the Chicago labor movement comes out to show the Congress a real taste of Chicago - a union town.

On the same day, workers at a Gelmart Industries garment factory in the Philippines will demonstrate in support of the Congress strikers. The Chairman of the partnership that owns the Congress is Albert Nasser, who is also Chairman and CEO of Gelmart Industries.