The Economic Policy Institute’s annual Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) conference, set to be held October 3-5 at the Kimpton Allegro Hotel in Chicago, has been relocated to express EPI and EARN’s firm solidarity with housekeepers, banquet workers, cooks, and other hospitality workers currently on strike at 26 downtown Chicago hotels. As Fair Hotel partners, EPI and EARN are committed to doing business with hotels that treat their workers with respect and fairness.

“EPI and EARN stand in solidarity with striking Chicago hotel workers, who are fighting for basic rights like health insurance, paid sick days, reasonable workloads, and wages that can support them and their families,” said EPI President Thea Lee. “We urge the Kimpton Allegro and the other hotels involved in the strike to address their workers’ reasonable demands and resolve this dispute swiftly.”

EARN is a network of 59 state and local research, policy, and public engagement organizations that advance policies to raise working Americans’ living standards. Its annual conference brings together leading economic thinkers, policy experts, members of the labor movement, social services providers, community organizers, faith leaders, and academic researchers to learn from each other and develop strategies and policies that will improve job quality and economic security. Given their commitment to economic justice, conference attendees would simply not be comfortable crossing a picket line.

EARN’s Chicago conference involves nearly 300 hotel nights, as well as significant meeting space, food, and beverage commitments.