(Washington, D.C.) — Today the 140 restaurant workers at The Bazaar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C., have secured voluntary recognition of their union with UNITE HERE Local 25. The union was formed with supermajority support from eligible staff. This is the first step in workers’ efforts to negotiate and win a collective bargaining agreement that will provide them with the respect, wages, safe working conditions and quality benefits they deserve.

“We deeply appreciate the José Andrés Group for standing by their values and doing the right thing. We anticipate productive conversations at the bargaining table as we work together to make sure the jobs at the Bazaar reflect its overall commitment to excellence. We are also tremendously grateful to CASA and all of our allies and the elected officials who supported the Bazaar workers,” said Paul Schwalb, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of Local 25.

The Bazaar by José Andrés is a majority immigrant workplace and is located within the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC hotel, the same federally-owned former Post Office that previously housed the Trump International Hotel. The organizing workers are composed of a range of job roles including hosts, food runners, cooks, waiters, bartenders and more. Currently, UNITE HERE Local 25 represents workers at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

“I am thrilled that management recognized our union and so excited about what’s to come. This sends a message not just to my co-workers, but restaurant workers across the D.C. area that we all deserve the dignity, respect and stable careers that come with a union,” said Evelyn Perez, a busser at the Bazaar.

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