UNITE HERE members employed by Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services (DNC-THS), the airport division of Delaware North, ratified a new collective bargaining agreement in a nationwide vote.

The three-year contract includes preservation of affordable health insurance costs to workers and increased coverage options, as well as earlier and more affordable dependent coverage for new hires. The contract also provides for increases in paid time off from work. Wage increases are negotiated locally.

"My co-workers in Denver and I are pleased that we maintained access to affordable insurance," said Cathy Hickman, a DNC-THS server. "This was a big deal for us in negotiations. I don’t have to worry about paying for care if my daughter gets sick. I want to help other airport workers get the same sense of security."

The contract will cover approximately 2,100 DNC-THS workers at 15 airport locations throughout the United States: Phoenix, Arizona; Ontario, California; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Detroit, Michigan; Newark, New Jersey; Syracuse, New York; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas and Richmond, Virginia.

UNITE HERE International Union represents workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry, and airport industries.