Over Labor Day weekend 20 years ago, Henry Tamarin met his greatest test as a union leader.
Emotions were running high. Mr. Tamarin was ready to lead his members into a citywide hotel strike. Then-Gov. George Ryan, concerned about a strike’s impact on tourism and state finances, mediated and the union “stopped the clock” upon the contract’s expiration, delaying a walkout as bargaining continued amid shouts and curses.
