In New York City, the garment industry has long been known as the "schmatta" trade. Schmatta is Yiddish for "rag", and that little piece of jargon speaks volumes about the history and traditions of the industry, New York City and working class people in this country. Even after 35 years...
Posted October 5, 2009 | 12:41:02 (EST)
Dear Friend of Workers: Right now, the democratic vote of workers all over St. Louis is being overruled by a backroom deal orchestrated by UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm. Worse, a Local 74 official reported that Wilhelm offered him tens of thousands of dollars to hijack the Local and return...
Posted September 14, 2009 | 15:05:36 (EST)
Our nation has lost a great hero and champion of working people. Crystal Lee Sutton was a courageous woman who stood up for herself and her coworkers under the most difficult circumstances. She was an inspiration to organizers in this union and beyond, particularly Southern women who went on to...
Posted June 4, 2009 | 18:18:56 (EST)
To: The American Labor Movement
The conflict between UNITE HERE and Workers United/SEIU must end. All of the workers affected by this dispute deserve nothing less.
After months of negotiations and mediation with no real progress, a few weeks ago we put forward a comprehensive proposal that provides...
Posted March 11, 2009 | 20:04:01 (EST)
Yesterday, the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in the House and Senate. It's being supported by, among others, millions of American workers who would like a union - and with it a union contract. It's being opposed by CEOs who you can be sure all bargained...
Posted March 2, 2009 | 18:04:23 (EST)
Many supporters in the progressive movement have been asking me "what's next for UNITE HERE?" Recently, I have learned that several UNITE HERE joint boards and locals representing more than 150,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada are planning on holding votes of rank and file leaders on the...
Posted February 9, 2009 | 14:06:15 (EST)
You may have read about problems in our union, UNITE HERE, in the New York Times this weekend. As people who care about the labor movement, I think you deserve to hear what is going on directly from me.
By every measure, the 2004 merger of UNITE and HERE...
Posted October 30, 2008 | 11:40:52 (EST)
When you wake up on November 5th, you may have a hangover. And that's o.k. Wake up with a hangover but don't wake up remorseful over what you could have done but didn't.
We are ahead in the polls but as a union leader who's seen many a National...
Posted July 24, 2008 | 15:18:41 (EST)
Today, more than two million American workers will get a raise.
The reason for the raise is that last year the minimum wage was increased from $5.15 to $7.25 in three steps over three years. The second step, from $5.85 to $6.55, goes into effect today. A year from...

Posted October 16, 2009 | 00:44:10 (EST)