Unionized Rosemont hotel workers get raises

ROSEMONT - The InterContinental Hotel in Rosemont, which opened last September, said Tuesday it has negotiated a four-year contract with 100 of its workers that provides free health care and annual raises.

The housekeeping and food-and-beverage staff will not have to pay any paycheck deductions for their health insurance. Also they will get a 90-cent raise in 2010 and 70-cent raise in 2011. The workers earn about $13 per hour.

The last two years of the contract will provide raises based on negotiations with other union contracts at nearby Hilton and Hyatt hotels, said Unite Here Local 450 spokesman Mike Somone.

The union represents about 20,000 Chicago area hospitality workers. The deal was signed July 23, he said.

The hotel's general manager was unavailable for comment.