Union report: One third of workers at Madison Hilton Monona Terrace are on Medicaid or uninsured

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – Workers at a downtown Madison hotel rallied for a fair contract. 

Staff picketed outside the Madison Hilton Monona Terrace on Wednesday morning in bitter cold and wind. The hotel is connected to Monona Terrace. It’s owned by Marcus Corporation, the same company that owns hotels and movie theaters. 

Back in August, workers voted to join Unite Here Local 1, a union representing people in hospitality. 

Zenaida May has been a bartender at the Hilton Monona Terrace for 12 years. She said they’re fighting for higher wages, better hours, and recognition. 

“After the pandemic it was really tough,” May said. “It was me doing bartending, doing serving, doing expo, getting all my food from the kitchen. I [did] that every day.” 

The union surveyed employees at the hotel including drivers, bartenders, cooks and room attendants. They found a third of workers there are either on Badgercare/Medicaid, or don’t have health insurance at all. Staff earn a median wage of $18 per hour.

In order to earn enough to afford a modest 2-bedroom apartment in Madison, you’d need to make over $28 per hour. That’s according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Meanwhile, Madison broke tourism spending records last year. The hospitality industry generated $2.6 billion for Dane County in 2024. 

“It’s just the beginning. We are fighting for a better future for every one of us in the hospitality industry,” May said. “Better wage, better hours of work, have one job and stability for our family.” 

The union members are now in the process of negotiating their first contract.