Some workers in downtown Chicago are threatening a strike. Their union says they voted by a large margin to authorize a work stoppage at five hotels.

Employees of some hotels run by New York-based Starwood finished a two-day vote Wednesday night. UNITE HERE Local 1 isn’t saying how many workers voted but says turnout was heavy and that 89 percent favored authorizing a work stoppage.

The vote enables a negotiating committee to schedule a strike at a Sheraton, a Westin, two W hotels, and the Tremont.

The union is trying to replace an expired three-year contract that covered a thousand workers at those hotels.

Starwood’s global profits are down but still totaled $40 million in the third quarter.

Union negotiator Kari Payne, a server at the Sheraton’s steak house, says Starwood isn’t offering its Chicago employees enough.

PAYNE: Threatening people with their health care, with a wage freeze for a couple years.

Starwood negotiators say they can’t discuss their proposals in public. They say they do intend to reach an agreement and don’t want anyone to lose health insurance.

The Starwood hotels are among 30 downtown inns with union contracts that expired nearly two months ago.