[New York, NY] Today, Mayor de Blasio has announced that he will appoint Tom Snyder to serve as his new Chief of Staff. Snyder, who is currently serving as the National Political Director for UNITE HERE, a union representing 270,000 hospitality workers across North America, will join the Mayor’s Office effective Apr. 20.

“For nearly two decades, Tom has been on the frontlines of our union, pushing a progressive agenda for the entire labor movement,” says D. Taylor, President of UNITE HERE.

Prior to his service with UNITE HERE, Snyder worked for the City of Boston, first serving as an Assistant to Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and the Redevelopment Authority (1985-1991) and later as the Director of the Administrative Services Department (1991-1994). In the latter position, Snyder served as the administration spokesperson and was responsible for the supervision of Boston’s budget, labor relations, contract management, purchasing and personnel departments. Snyder has also served as the Executive Director for Massachusetts Fair/Citizen Action, a statewide non-profit community organization, advocating for economic justice issues in blue-collar Massachusetts cities.

Snyder has worked with UNITE HERE since 1996, serving as the National Political Director and Vice President to the International Union. In his time with UNITE HERE, Snyder has led a number of key organizing and political initiatives. He organized and won a union contract for 3500 workers at Rio Casino in Las Vegas and played a leading role in the national Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride (IWFR) in 2003 with 100,000 participants. As Political Director for UNITE HERE, Snyder led UNITE HERE’s successful political efforts in Los Angeles, Florida, New Haven, and Seattle and the campaign to deliver Nevada for President in Obama in both 2008 and 2012. In 2012, he directed an initiative that registered 35,000 new Latino voters in Phoenix, AZ, producing a dramatic change in the makeup of the Phoenix City Council.

“We are sad to lose such a valuable member of the UNITE HERE family, but we know Tom will continue to make an important contribution to our collective desire to see change in America,” says Taylor. “Our Union has strongly supported Mayor de Blasio—one of the most pro-worker mayors in America—and his decision to appoint Tom Snyder only underscores his commitment to everyday working people.”