Picket lines formed Friday in front of three hotels in downtown Chicago. A union representing 6,000 hospitality workers says hotels are trying to roll back health coverage.

Hotel room occupancy in Chicago has declined since 2007. But the cost of health insurance keeps rising. That puts UNITE HERE Local 1 on defense in talks to replace three-year contracts that expired last week.

ROBLES: What about if my kids gets sick? Who’s going to pay the bill?

Sheraton waiter Nicolás Robles was among dozens of Local 1 members who picketed in front of the Affinia today.

The hotel’s general manager is Claudia Eggspuhler.

EGGSPUHLER: It’s stressful on our staff but I’m pretty sure our corporate office will come to agreements with the union.

The Affinia’s parent company didn’t return our calls today. A Sheraton negotiator says the hotels want the union to recognize the economic times. A Hyatt Regency statement says that hotel is trying to manage health-care costs while keeping benefits competitive.

Local 1 counters that hospitality profits remain strong. The union formed a second picket line at the W and a third at the Drake. At another downtown hotel, the Congress Plaza, Local 1 is leading a 6-year-old strike.