UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE! is a union of workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry, and airport industries, the majority of which are women.[1]
History
Textile Workers Union of America
The Textile Workers Union of America was formerly the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (which merged with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America). All of these eventually became UNITE HERE.[2]
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
In 1995, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) joined forces with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union to form UNITE!.[3]
Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union
In 2004, UNITE announced that it would merge with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) to form UNITE HERE.[4]
Workers United split
In 2009, more than 150,000 UNITE HERE members left the union and united under the new name, Workers United.[5]
Governance
General Officers elected 30 June 2009.[6]
- President – John Wilhelm
- Secretary-Treasurer – Sherri Chiesa
- Recording Secretary – Peter Ward
- General Vice President – Donald Taylor
- General Vice President for Immigration, Civil Rights, and Diversity – Tho Thi Do
Patron for a DSA Event
On June 13, 2002 Boston Democratic Socialists of America presented its 25th Annual Debs–Thomas–Bernstein Awards to "leaders who fight for democracy, here at home and around the world". State Representatives Pat Jehlen and Anne Paulsen, Co-Chairs of the Progressive Legislators Group received the award. Ellen Feingold, the earliest known recipient (1979) spoke on the history of the organization. David Knuttunen and Susan Davidoff were benefactors of the reception. UNITE HERE was a patron of the reception.[7]
Endorsement of Barack Obama
UNITE HERE voted to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President, supporting the campaign in primaries and caucuses throughout the nation. President of UNITE HERE, Bruce Raynor said,
- “Barack Obama began his career organizing working families who were trying to pick up their lives as their industries were leaving them behind. As he entered politics, we knew that he would understand our members and we supported him from the start. Our organization and our members will do everything in our power to see that he reaches the White House this fall, because we know he will bring working Americans with him.”[8]
Barack Obama was sworn in to office wearing a tuxedo made by UNITE HERE members at Chicago's Hart Schaffner Marx factory, which UNITE HERE says demonstrates the pro-worker values that he will bring to the Presidency.[9]
Moratorium NOW!
On Sept. 17, 2008, the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions sponsored a rally at the Michigan State Capitol, demanding the State Legislature enact SB 1306, a two-year foreclosure moratorium bill. Represented at the rally was UNITE HERE, Change to Win, United Auto Workers, Service Employees International Union, American Federation of Teachers, Green Party of Michigan, Detroit Greens, the Cynthia McKinney presidential campaign, Students for a Democratic Society, National Lawyers Guild, Workers World Party, Food Not Bombs, Critical Moment, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, Michigan Welfare Rights, Call ’Em Out, Latinos Unidos of Michigan, Grand Rapids Latino Community Coalition, Joint Religious Organizing Network for Action and Hope, Adrian Dominican Sisters & Associates for Peace. The following led or spoke at the rally: Sandra Hines and Abayomi Azikiwe of the Moratorium NOW!; Kris Hamel; Reverend Ed Rowe, Central United Methodist Church; State Representatives Gabe Leland, Shanelle Jackson, Bettie Cook Scott and Steve Tobocman; State Sen. Martha G. Scott; Rubie Curl-Pinkins and her daughter Nikki Curl; Jerry Goldberg, people’s attorney and coalition leader; Juan Daniel Castro, Grand Rapids Latino Community Coalition; Linette Crosby; Larry Holmes, a leader of the Troops Out Now Coalition; Robert Pratt of UNITE HERE; and Rosendo Delgado of Latinos Unidos of Michigan.[10]
Moratorium NOW! is affiliated with the Bail Out the People Movement and is controlled by the Workers World Party. The organization's office is located at the Central United Methodist Church and holds meetings there.[11][12]
External Links
References
- ↑ About
- ↑ History, ROI letter
- ↑ International Ladies Garment Workers Union (1900-1995), NPS
- ↑ History
- ↑ About Workers United
- ↑ UNITE HERE Governance
- ↑ The Yankee Radical, Sep./Oct. 2002
- ↑ UNITE HERE Endorses Senator Barack Obama
- ↑ Obama will be sworn in to office in a UNITE HERE tuxedo
- ↑ International Action Center - Boston: People tell Michigan legislators: ‘MORATORIUM NOW!’ (accessed on Feb. 10, 2011)
- ↑ Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr: Members of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition attending a meeting at the Central United Methodist Church on Nov. 20 in Detroit, Nov. 20, 2010 (accessed on Feb. 10, 2011)
- ↑ International Action Center - Boston: People tell Michigan legislators: ‘MORATORIUM NOW!’ (accessed on Feb. 10, 2011)