Description: UNITE HERE is a North American labor union that represents roughly 300,000 workers in the hospitality and service economy, including hotel and casino workers, airport and airline service employees, food service and catering workers, laundry and textile workers, and related sectors. The organization’s mission is to organize workers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, and win better wages, benefits and workplace protections while advancing racial, gender and immigration equity for its predominantly women and workers-of-color membership. Type: labor union Policies: Collective bargaining and contract enforcement, living wages and benefits for hospitality and service workers, workplace health and safety, organizing and union recognition, immigrant worker protections, racial and gender equity in the workplace, paid leave and scheduling reform, and progressive political mobilization and labor-friendly legislation at local, state/provincial and federal levels. Funding: Primarily funded by member dues and assessments, supplemented by local union funds, benefit and pension plan resources and contributions to affiliated political committees. Affiliates: Affiliated with the AFL-CIO and a network of local UNITE HERE locals and labor councils (including the New York Hotel Trades Council/Hotel Trades Council and UNITE HERE Canada); prominent leaders include Gwen Mills (union president) and former president John W. Wilhelm.
