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UNITE HERE Local 11
Graciela Gomez encourages Jamaica Bay workers

Graciela Gomez: the union is here to support you

UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power Lead Arizona’s Largest Voter Canvass for Harris

Knock on over 1.3 million doors, have over 250,000 conversations with voters

Phoenix, Ariz.–Building on their track record of winning elections cycle after cycle, UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power knew that knocking on doors and having conversations with voters to get out the vote was essential. UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power grew to over 500 canvassers after launching their field operation in August.

 “Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 focused on doing what we do best, connecting face-to-face with voters on top issues that matter to them like the economy, reproductive rights and democracy. I am particularly proud that we talked to over 32,000 voters who did not vote in Arizona in 2020,” said Brendan Walsh, Executive Director of Worker Power. “In our experience, having won Arizona for Biden in 2020, we found that oftentimes these heavily contested races come down to a handful of votes, and we are optimistic that our field program will deliver that key difference again this year.”

Worker Power’s universe of voters consisted of low propensity voters, voters of color, women, young people, and unaffiliated or independent voters, from Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. Canvassers talked with 54.2% women and 51.6% voters of color to motivate them to vote for Harris, U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, and Prop 139. By election night we knocked on over 1.3 million doors and had 250,000 conversations with voters.

“As we wait for every vote to be counted, we know that hundreds of cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, airport and food service workers, once again, left it all out in the field in Arizona to elect a President who will fight for working people. Our members just came off of a year-long contract fight at over 70 hotels and event centers, and won. They brought that same energy and drive to this election. That’s where the difference is made—not on television screens or billboards, but looking people in the eye and asking them what kind of world they want to live in.” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 and Board Chair of Worker Power.

In addition to working on the Presidential and U.S. Senate elections, Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 also activated voters to vote down ballot for key swing legislative races, Phoenix city council races, statewide propositions like Prop 139, and Prop 499 in Glendale.

“I had never been involved politically until this year. It was important for me to get out the vote for Harris because as a woman this election is a matter of life or death. I also have a sister and nieces in Texas where, like in Arizona, the rights of women and young girls are on the line. Decades ago women could not vote or own property, and we are not going back,” said Cynthia Jimenez, cook at Sky Harbor International Airport for 12 years and member of UNITE HERE Local 11, originally from Chiapas, Mexico.

UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power were affiliated with UNITE HERE International Union’s national program, which led field programs in seven key battleground states, including Nevada and Pennsylvania. Collectively, UNITE HERE knocked on 4 million doors to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

4 MONTHS. 4 MILLION DOORS.

 

IRIS ACOSTA

Iris Acosta is a housekeeper at the W WestBeverly Hills. She is knocking on doors in Arizona for Kamala Harris and to defeat Trump! Thank you, Iris.

Cirilo Curiel is a cook at the Jamaica Bay Inn

Cirilo Curiel vota SÍ por la unión

Juan Rodriguez is voting YES for the union at the Jamaica Bay Inn

Juan Rodriguez va a votar SÍ a la unión

Justin Keith works at the Jamaica Bay Inn in Marina Del Rey

Justin Keith is voting UNION YES

Key LA City Council Vote on Olympic Wage for Los Angeles Tourism Workers

Vote would increase wages to $30/hour by 2028 and include improved access to healthcare 

Los Angeles – Hundreds of cooks, room attendants, dishwashers, airport workers, and allies will pack the chambers for a vote on the Olympic Wage in the Economic, Community Development, and Jobs Committee. As a major legacy project for the 2028 Games, the Olympic Wage will be the first in mega-event history, increasing wages and healthcare benefits for over 32,000 tourism workers who are predominantly workers of color and immigrants. 

The vote comes after months of delay by city officials and an occupy action outside City Hall. Last month, the city’s Chief Legislative Analyst released a report providing extensive economic analysis of the proposed ordinance, concluding that the policy will “significantly improve equity of both compensation and benefits for workers in the targeted sectors” and be “strongly beneficial to all three local economies: LA City, LA County, and its neighboring jurisdictions.” 

In a letter released earlier this month, leaders of UNITE HERE Local 11, a union representing some 32,000 hospitality and food service workers across Southern California and Arizona, called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), LA28, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and LA’s World Cup Host Committee to publicly endorse the LA Olympic Wage Ordinance as it comes up for a vote in LA City Council.

While the tourism industry is poised to continue to grow as it gears up to host the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and other mega-events, wages remain insufficient for tourism workers to continue to live in Los Angeles and surrounding cities as the region grapples with an unprecedented housing crisis. Although over 10,000 hotel workers have won historic wage increases in the largest hotel strike in U.S history led by UNITE HERE Local 11, thousands more in airports and hotels would benefit from the City of Los Angeles passing an Olympic Wage. Hotel, airport, and stadium contracts are set to expire in 2028, months before the Olympics and Paralympics.