Author Archives for Ann Kammerer
Food service workers at Orlando International Airport with Local 362 voted YES to ratify a new union contract at AREAS MCO, locking in major wins for workers. The agreement includes guaranteed wage increases twice a year, reduced employee contributions across all health plans, and a pension.
Workers also secured paid parental leave, a new paid holiday, inclement weather pay, increased life insurance, short-term disability, and more. It’s a big win that shows what’s possible when workers stand together and fight for strong standards on the job.
Nearly 90 workers at Craig’s Cookies have voted to unionize across five shops in Toronto, coming together as the company continues to expand nationally. After a two week organizing drive that began in early December, workers voted to join Local 75, building collective power across the brand.
The newly organized shops include locations in East York, Church-Wellesley, Leslieville, Parkdale, and Union Station, marking a strong show of unity from workers across the city.
Days before the new year, more than a thousand Aramark workers hit a home run at Boston’s Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall by ratifying an extraordinary new contract. Workers won the largest wages increases in the history of Fenway Park, as well as job protections against automation. The workers had been negotiating for almost a year and had gone on a three-day strike in the summer.
Over the next five years, non-tipped employees will get $10/hour raises and tipped employees will get $5/hour raises. Catering gratuities will increase from 15% to 17%, while vendors will see a 1% increase on commissions. All employees will also receive retroactive pay dating back to January 1st, 2025. Under the new agreement, existing self-checkout kiosks will remain, but there will be one human beer seller and one ID checker for every two machines. Aramark will be prohibited from adding more hybrid machines that sell both alcohol and food.
Joe Baio, a Barback and Union Shop Steward who has been at the iconic Boston ballpark for 15 seasons, said, “Fenway’s tradition doesn’t come from the walls, it comes from the workers. We’ve been here through renovations, management changes, and every kind of season. This contract helps keep that history in the park for fans.”
The Culinary Union led a 24 hour strike at the Village Pub at Harry Reid International Airport on December 5 and 6, as workers continue fighting for a fair contract. Nearly 30 workers employed by Airport Concessions LLC took part in the action, calling for wage increases and stronger standards to support their families.
Workers at DBE concessionaires across the airport have been organizing, picketing, and rallying to push the company to come to the table. With the busy holiday season approaching in Las Vegas, workers say they are organized, united, and prepared to keep fighting until they win a fair agreement.
Workers at Sky River Casino rallied in Elk Grove alongside community allies, calling on the casino to honor its agreement and recognize their union. Back in 2017, casino ownership signed a deal promising to recognize the union if a majority of workers signed cards. That happened in 2023, but the casino still refuses to follow through, even after two arbitrators and a federal judge upheld the agreement.
Workers have also shown how far their pay falls behind union standards at other Northern California casinos. Some say they earn several dollars an hour less than the regional union average, even while doing the same work. They are now demanding that the casino respect its own agreement and come to the table for a fair contract.
Faith leaders joined tourism workers and allies on December 18th at Los Angeles Council President Marqueece Hariss Dawson field office in South LA for some Christmas Caroling to encourage him to stand up to tourism industry scrooges this holiday season and WITHDRAW HIS MOTION to damage the Olympic Wage!
If passed, that motion would delay the full $30 hourly minimum wage for tourism workers until 2030, along with delays in access to urgently needed family health care, effectively taking money out of workers’ pockets with the lowest paid full-time workers without health coverage losing nearly $35,000 as a result of the proposed shift.
On December 19, over 150 Local 5 members walked out on a one-day strike at the Royal Kona Resort to fight for a fair contract that values their hard work and dedication. Royal Kona workers have been working without a contract since February 2025 and despite nearly a year of bargaining, their employer refuses to take workers and their concerns seriously. In addition to wage increases that keep up with Hawaii’s high cost of livings, workers at the Royal Kona are fighting for better workplace staffing & job security language and protections in the event of major emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, December 5th, airport lounge workers at the George Bush International Airport in Houston ratified new 3-year union contracts! The new agreements cover more than 200 Flik & Eurest workers in the United Club & American Airline Admiral Club lounges. At ratification workers won an immediate wage increase of $4, raising the wage floor to $20/hour in year one, for many of the workers. They will receive an additional $2 by the end of the contract, bringing them to $22/hr.
“I feel incredibly happy and proud of the fair contract and wage increase we were able to win. Thanks to our union and the strength we showed together, this raise will allow us to spend more time with our families and afford our rent, bills, groceries, mortgage, car payments, medical insurance, and more.” – Klaudia Barrientos, Lounge Floor Attendant at George Bush International Airport & member of UNITE HERE Local 23
Last month, Sodexo workers at Novo Nordisk ratified their first contract with huge wins! The workers won 11 federal holidays, free short-term disability, low premiums with UNITE HERE Health Insurance, pension & education funds, and a $4.50 wage increase over the next 3 years!
“It feels good being a part of a Union, we have each other’s back and finally have a voice to be heard in our workplace.” -Yesenia Matos, Delivery.
Hotel workers at the Hilton Boston Back Bay overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract, securing the Local 26 hotel standard that raises wages and strengthens protections on the job. The agreement is a big win for the crew at the Hilton and another step forward in raising standards across Boston’s hospitality industry.
