'Pro-Union' Pritzker's Cruise Company Fights Unionization

CHICAGO — One of JB Pritzker's companies is warning its workers against joining a union. The billionaire Democratic candidate for governor is a vocal supporter of labor, and his campaign has highlighted its endorsements from dozens of unions. But according to a letter to staff posted to social media Tuesday, bosses at one of his businesses do not share his views.

Billy Dean, an employee of SeaDog Ventures, posted the letter from management regarding union authorization cards. The Chicago-based boat operator is a division of the Pritzker-owned company Entertainment Cruises, which has declined to comment on the matter.

Dean said the company this year switched its workers to shifts of 12 to 15 hours with no warning. In response, he began efforts to unionize the company, according to his post.

"We're winning currently, but the company just started their anti-union campaign," he said. "What is real interesting about this is I work for JB Pritzker, 'pro-union' gubernatorial candidate for Illinois. Right now his progressive rhetoric doesn't match his actions."

He posted an image of the letter on Entertainment Cruises stationary posted alongside his note. It said the company was committed to following the National Labor Relations Act and had been trained on compliance. The letter also encouraged workers to carefully consider the consequences of signing on to efforts to form a union.

"There's only one way to guarantee that you can avoid the problems a union could possibly cause," the letter said. "Just SAY NO!"

It said the company want the same things as its workers and "tries hard to make this a great place to work."

Dean disagreed, saying working up to 15 hours a day without a break "really wears on you."

After Dean's post was reported by WCIA-TV, a vice president of Entertainment Cruises said the company was aware of the coverage. He declined to answer questions regarding the letter, the number of employees at the company or their unionization efforts.

The Pritzker campaign responded with the following statement:

As JB has said throughout the campaign, he supports workers’ right to organize and he believes the process should be fair, open, and free of intimidation. JB also believes in workers’ rights to collectively bargain as an important tool toward raising wages. JB has stepped away from Pritzker Group and is no longer involved in the management of the company. He believes that all employers should respect those rights of workers and unions. JB is proud to have the support of the Illinois AFLCIO and dozens of unions across the state and as governor, he will continue to fight for the tools working families need to thrive.

Pritzker is an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune and is co-owner of the Pritzker Group investment firm with his brother Tony. The brothers each have an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion. A contract with workers expires Friday at 30 downtown Chicago hotels, including Hyatt's, and their union said it has authorized a strike.