The split between Mayor Daley and Chicago's labor movement grew a little bit bigger this week, as the Congress Hotel, which has been on strike for the last four and a half years, was denied an expansion request by the city's Plan Commission. Four of the nine Plan Commission members voted for the proposal Thursday, one member rejected the request, and four other members abstained from voting. Mayor Daley supported the proposal, saying that "it would be inappropriate to bring the hotel's labor issues into a discussion.... The matter before the Chicago Plan Commission is to determine if these plans are in accordance with the Lakefront Protection Ordinance. And that's all it has to do." The hotel's New York-based ownership wants to build an additional five floors to the historic property, to be used for a swimming pool, a health club, a restaurant, and more rooms. more ›