We are organizers. We are elected officers. We are workers. We are community leaders and neighbors. We are parents, children, siblings, and kin. We are your Union family.
And we cannot breathe.
In the last three months we have seen companies line up to abandon us. We have seen them take away healthcare, guaranteeing that more people will fall ill. We have seen politicians shrug their shoulders as people go hungry. But while our Union has been thrown into crisis, our communities have been tossed into even deadlier devastation by ongoing racism and racist violence.
We have gotten sick faster and more often than others.
We have had fewer resources to get well.
Black men, women, and trans folks are murdered by police and citizens.
We have not enjoyed justice.
We keep burying people that we love.
Pain, fear, anger, and devastation hang heavy on our weary hearts. Sometimes we wonder if anyone can see that our people are killed by so many unjust causes. We lay awake at night not knowing what to do while racism keeps its foot on our necks, never lets up, never lets us take a break. Can’t anyone see that we can’t breathe?
But we fight back, organizing workers to build power through our tears.
We fight back, making phone calls from our sick beds.
We fight back, distributing food even as we stretch our paychecks and family members lose their jobs.
We fight back, holding our loved ones tight and taking the streets because people who look like us meet violent deaths over and over and over again.
We fight for the right to keep breathing.
We carry forward a long and proud tradition of black union leaders organizing for Black freedom. And we will do so until our very last breaths.
Today we call upon you to stand with us. To join us in the fight for our lives — just as we will always stand with you and fight for yours. We know that what happens to our communities can and does happen to others. And it will continue to happen so long as any of us stand idly by. We will stand with our Asian family through the rise in hate, with our Latino family, and our immigrant family discarded, detained, and left in cages. We will stand with our white kin who choose the fight for real liberty and justice for all.
We are calling on you to fight police brutality and anti-black violence with us as we continue to fight for economic justice because we love our Union, and we know that we have the power to emerge victorious over racism, anti-immigrant racism, over sexism, homophobia, and everything that threatens working people and their communities, such that finally — at long last — we all might breathe freely and have life abundantly.
WE CAN’T BREATHE WE CAN’T BREATHE WE CAN’T BREATHE
Scott Marks Organizing director, Chair Black Leadership Committee
Nia Winson IU General Vice President, L24 President
Marlene Patrick-Cooper Executive Committee, L23 President
Marvin Jones General Executive Board, L878 President
Alberta Palmer L7 Lead Organizer
Kandiz Lamb L355 Vice President, Lead Organizer
Barbara Vereen L34 Organizing Director
Donald Boyd L23 Chapter President
Tyisha Walker-Myers General Executive Board, L35 Chief Steward
Pamela Stitts IU Lead Organizer
Theressa Council L54 Organizing Director
Courtney Smith L1 Lead Organizer
Jean-Homer Lauture L100 Lead Organizer
Leain Vashon L226 Vice President
JT Thomas L226 Field Representative
Nicole Hunt General Executive Board, L634 President
Sorry, Mr. President, we are not taking the bait! Your latest executive order is a phony deal.
You need to stop using immigrants as a foil yet again to distract the American people. This is exactly what you are doing with his latest executive order halting immigration to America for 60 days. Your own Immigration Service doesn’t even know what the order actually means and who it might cover.
You claim you’re halting immigration to help fight the COVID-19 virus. But you’re the same president who proposes medical guidelines to fight the virus while at the same time you encourage people to resist those guidelines.
Finally, you claim this executive order will help workers. As a labor union we have to say you’re dead wrong. You’re not helping workers with this. This executive order is a distraction. But we are not falling for it.
President Trump, if you want to help working people in this country you and Congress need to step up and focus on five things:
You need to protect and expand health insurance for all workers;
You need to keep all front-line workers safe and secure;
You need to keep workers employed and protect earned pension checks;
You need keep our state and local governments, our public schools and the U.S. Postal Service solvent and working;
You need to keep America competitive- hire people now to build infrastructure.
Five priorities, Mr. President. If you are serious about helping workers, spend your time getting these five priorities accomplished now. This where our Union is focused. This is where working people are focused. And all your distractions only strengthen our focus.
Sample Facebook Post:
“I just called Congress to tell them that thousands of hospitality workers—not just billionaire companies—need cash in their pockets RIGHT NOW. Workers must come first in any COVID-19 bailout package! Please join me in calling today. It’s easy, just follow this link!”
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Local 226 hosted a series of seven Town Halls throughout November, December, and January in Las Vegas with Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Bernie Sanders, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Tom Steyer to hear more from leading 2020 Democratic contenders on where they stand on issues that matter most to our members: creating more good union jobs, healthcare, immigration, and more.
Hundreds of hospitality workers who are members of UNITE HERE’s Culinary and Bartenders Unions in Nevada—joined by UNITE HERE members from key swing states like Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—packed into our Las Vegas union hall to hear from the candidates.
UNITE HERE, which represents airline catering workers, plans demonstrations at 17 airports including Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas, Newark, JFK and Washington National. (See list of airports at the end of this story.)
The union expects the number of demonstrators at each airport to range from about 200 to as many as 1,000 at JFK.
“The Trump administration’s proposed fee hikes are a brazen attempt to restrict access to citizenship, DACA, asylum, and other forms of relief to the wealthy, continuing their despicable campaign to limit immigration reform to the 1% through requirements that make wealth a prerequisite for access to the American Dream. As we head into 2020, we must intensify our fight to reclaim our country, remove politicians who spew racism and anti-immigrant animus from power, and achieve the real immigration reform that our families need.”
—Enrique L. Fernández
General Vice President for Immigration, Diversity and Civil Rights
On this anniversary of September 11, 2001, UNITE HERE remembers all those who lost their lives on that tragic day. We hold especially close the memory of our 43 sisters and brothers from UNITE HERE Local 100 who died while working at Windows on the World, a restaurant located at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
In memory of our fallen brothers and sisters at Windows on the World:
Sophia Buruwa Addo
Shabbir Ahmed
Antonio J. Alvarez
Telmo Alvear
Manuel O. Asitimbay
Samuel Ayala
Ivhan Luis Carpio Bautista
Jesus Cabezas
Manuel Gregorio Chavez
Mohammed S. Chowdhury
Jose De Pena
Nancy Diaz
Henry Fernandez
Lucille Virgen Francis
Enrique A. Gomez
Jose B. Gomez
Wilder Gomez
Ysidro Hidalgo Tejada
John Holland
Francois Jean-Pierre
Eliezer Jimenez Jr.
Abdoulaye Kone
Victor Kwarkye
Jeffrey Latouche
Lebardo Lopez
Jan Maciejewski
Manuel Mejia
Antonio Melendez
Nana Akwasi Minkah
Martin Morales
Blanca Morocho
Jerome Nedd
Juan Nieves Jr.
Jose R. Nunez
Isidro Ottenwalder
Jesus Ovalles
Victor Paz Gutierrez
Alejo Perez
Moises Rivas
David B. Rodriguez Vargas
Gilbert Ruiz
Juan Salas
Abdoul Karim Traore
The families and coworkers of those mostly immigrant workers talk about their loss, their dreams, and their challenges in the video “Windows,” also available in Spanish.
WHO: UNITE HEREAirline catering workers and political, labor and community supporters from DC and elsewhere, including:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT), Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH), Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA), Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA), Rep. Grace Meng (NY), Rep. Ayanna Presley (MA), Rep. Darren Soto (FL), Rep. Dina Titus (NV), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ)
UNITE HERE President D. Taylor, ALPA President Captain Joe DePete, AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson, AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler
Representatives from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and German trade union ver.di
WHERE AND WHEN: Tuesday, July 23, 2019
4:30-5:15p: Informational Picketing at Terminal C North Terrace (Departures Level) 5:30p: Rally/Speaking Program Begins in Terminal A Historic Lobby 6:30p: Elizabeth Warren scheduled to speak
WHY:
In the past month, following a breakdown in bargaining for a new contract, 15,000 airline catering workers at 32 U.S. airports voted to authorize a strike when released by the National Mediation Board. They say that poverty wages and unaffordable health care have created a crisis for workers in their industry, making it impossible for them to meet their basic needs. And while American Airlines reported a 2018 annual profit of $1.9 billion, wages for catering workers—subcontracted workers who prepare, pack, and deliver inflight food and beverages—in American Airlines’ major hub cities remain the lowest in the country.
This week, UNITE HERE will formally request release to strike from the National Mediation Board, which would be followed by a 30-day cooling off period if granted. UNITE HERE is prepared to strike whenever it becomes lawful.
UNITE HERE is a union of more than 300,000 members in in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries in the U.S. and Canada. This includes over 20,000 workers in the airline catering industry who are employees of Flying Food Group, Gate Gourmet, LSG Sky Chefs, and United Airlines
“The Democratic presidential candidate who connects with American workers on kitchen-table economics will win the nomination and win the general election in 2020.
The political campaigns of 2020 will end at the ballot box, but they must start at the kitchen table. That is where elections are won and lost, where we meet the real issues of concern to Americans struggling to join the middle class. And the central issue today is economic anxiety in an era of plenty for the top 1 percent of America.”
UNITE HERE represents workers throughout the United States and Canada.
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE International Union.
UNITE HERE Statement on Proposed Suspension of Immigration to the U.S.
Thank you for telling Congress to put workers first!
Action Alert! Congress: Put Workers First!
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union Hosts Town Halls with Democratic Contenders
Airline Caterers Union Plans Airport Protests On Nov. 26, A Day When 2.8 Million People Will Be Flying
UNITE HERE Statement on Trump Administration’s Proposed Fee Hikes Limiting Access to Citizenship, DACA, Asylum, and Other Relief
UNITE HERE Remembers and Honors those Lost on September 11
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to Join UNITE HERE Airline Catering Workers and Hundreds of Supporters at Reagan National Airport Rally, Tell American Airlines That One Job Should Be Enough
D. Taylor: Democrats must focus on kitchen-table issues to win the White House
We are organizers. We are elected officers. We are workers. We are community leaders and neighbors. We are parents, children, siblings, and kin. We are your Union family.
