A Visual History of Struggles & Victories of UNITE HERE Members

2021

Come Back Stronger
The hospitality workers across North America who make up UNITE HERE have faced extreme hardship from COVID-19 with resilience and determination. Today, they are fighting for a recovery where no one gets left behind. We are UNITE HERE, and together as a union we will COME BACK STRONGER.
Youtube: English : Spanish
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The Union of Coal Miners: Their History and Legacy of Solidarity
UNITE HERE, the union of hospitality workers, pays tribute to the history and legacy of the United Mine Workers of America, who built the American labor movement and have stood in solidarity time and time again with hospitality workers through some of the union’s toughest fights. Today, UNITE HERE is honored to stand with the courageous union coal miners on strike at WarriorMet in Alabama.
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Voting Rights Now
On Aug. 2, UNITE HERE joined the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival in nonviolent direct action at the US Capitol to demand that the Senate protect our freedom to vote. Hundreds of marchers participated in an act of civil disobedience—including over 75 members of UNITE HERE.
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Freedom Ride for Voting Rights
On June 26, 2021, Over 1,500 UNITE HERE hospitality workers from 21 states participated in the Freedom Ride for Voting Rights with our allies Black Voters Matter. Many Freedom Riders rode the bus for more than a week, converging in Washington, D.C. for a massive march and rally to protect our freedom to vote.
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UNITE HERE: Take Back the Senate
In 2020, COVID took our jobs and our loved ones. But we led the way to TAKE BACK what’s ours: in Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania. 1,700 workers. 3 million doors. But our work wasn’t done. We joined Stacey Abrams and others in Georgia, building on years of their hard work, to TAKE BACK THE SENATE—and change the course of history.
Youtube English : Spanish
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The Story of Georgia: UNITE HERE’s Get Out the African Vote Initiative
There are many stories to be told for how we won in Georgia to #TakeBackTheSenate. Among them is that of Dekalb County’s Clarkston—the most diverse square mile in America—& our “Get Out the African Vote Initiative,” led by UNITE HERE canvassers from 6 African countries.
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2020

UNITE HERE: 2020 Recap
In 2020, UNITE HERE tackled the biggest challenges the union has ever faced. A pandemic that took our loved ones and our jobs. A Trump presidency fueled by white supremacy and bent on maintaining power no matter the cost on working people or the health of the nation. No union was hit harder—98% of our members’ jobs wiped out overnight. But rather than give up, we gave back. We fired back. We fought back. We took back our health. Our lives. Our jobs. We took back Democracy.
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Take Back 2020
COVID-19 took our jobs and our loved ones. Work has taken our lives. Our employers take advantage. Trump takes. And takes. And takes. But justice is never given — it is taken. So, let’s take back our country. Let’s take back our future. Let’s take back our lives.
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Democracy is Essential Work
As organizers committed to real social change, we know that nothing replaces real conversations. So we found a safe and effective model for doing political canvassing in the midst of COVID-19 and led the largest union door-to-door canvassing operation in the nation. Our members weathered tough conditions, masked up and hit the doors, because saving democracy IS essential work.
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“We Cannot Breathe”: Voices from UNITE HERE’s Black Leadership Group
“We are the Black Leadership Group of UNITE HERE. 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.”
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We’re In this Together
A message from D. Taylor, President of UNITE HERE, to union staff, members and everyone working in the hospitality industry about the state of our union amid the COVID-19 crisis. His message? We’re in this together. Despite record layoffs in the hospitality industry—98% membership loss at the coronavirus crisis peak—UNITE HERE perseveres. Our history and grit have fortified our union for our toughest battle to date.
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One Job Should Be Enough For Airline Catering Workers
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2019

2019: The Year in Victories
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Nationwide Airport Action: One Job Should be Enough
On February 14, we elevated our call to American, Delta, and United Airlines. UNITE HERE represented airline catering workers demonstrated, leafletted, fasted, did civil disobedience, rallied, and made sure that their voices were heard.
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2019 Convention Videos

UNITE HERE: 5 years of hard-won victories
It’s been 5 years of hope, heartbreak, and hard-won victories for our union. We kept our promise to change 50,000 lives. We are now 300,000 strong. #unitehere
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Fighting to Preserve the Union in Toronto
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Overcoming Adversity
In the wake of natural disasters and mass shootings, this video shows the work of the union and the power of solidarity in various efforts to help UNITE HERE members and their families cope with devastation and rebuild their lives.
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Empowering People: Combating Sexual Harassment
The hotel and hospitality industry is routinely cited as one of the industries in America with the highest rates of sexual assault or harassment in the workplace. This is due in part to the isolated conditions of hotel housekeeping work, management resistance to taking action against guests that create unsafe and undignified environments, and unequal power dynamics between guests and hotel workers. UNITE HERE hotel and casino workers have been winning protections from workplace sexual assault and harassment for years in contracts and local laws.
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One Job Should Be Enough: Cleare’s Story, Atlantic City
Cleare and her coworkers stood together for 102 days during their strike at the former Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. They put up a fight for raises, family healthcare, and power—even after the casino closed—and now have what they deserve as employees at the Hard Rock Casino.
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One Job Should Be Enough: Diego and Esperanza’s Story, Orlando
Walt Disney World cast members had enough of poverty wages from a multi-billion-dollar company. Diego and Esperanza fought for something bigger than themselves—and won the battle for a better future.
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One Job Should Be Enough: Fiance’s Story, Washington, D.C.
“I’m just looking forward to my options and bettering my life—now that we have the union.” Fiance fought through homelessness to become a union leader at the MGM National Harbor.
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One Job Should Be Enough: Johanna’s Story, New Orleans
“I decided to organize because if you want a change, you have to speak up.” Johanna knows the power of believing in yourself after winning the union at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans.
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2018

One Job Should Be Enough
UNITE HERE hotel workers unite to tell Marriott, the largest and richest hotel company in the world, that one job should be enough. Our jobs should be enough to live in the cities where we work, enough to provide for a family, and enough to retire with dignity.
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Cantonese Youtube : Download

Voices from the Strike Picket Lines: One Job Should Be Enough
Courtney Vimeo : Download
Larrilou Vimeo : Download
Chris Vimeo : Download
Cleve Vimeo : Download

Carrying on What They Started
More than 2,000 UNITE HERE members from across North America join tens of thousands in Memphis, Tennessee, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. UNITE HERE members share their experiences in the historic civil rights struggle and what coming to Memphis means to them now.
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#IAM2018: UNITE HERE in Memphis
More than 2,000 UNITE HERE members from across North America joined tens of thousands more in Memphis, Tennessee, to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Memphis sanitation workers—and carry their legacy forward.
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Dining Car Workers of Local 43
Unions representing railroad dining car workers were the first predominantly black unions in America. That legacy lives on in UNITE HERE, whose dining car workers on Amtrak trains serve travelers across the United States. Amtrak retirees, wanting to stay in touch with their railroad family, have started a monthly breakfast. These are their stories.
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2017

Demanding a permanent solution for Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Iris’s Story
Iris Acosta is a housekeeper in the W Westwood Hotel in Los Angeles. When she obtained Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from the U.S. government) in 1998 many doors opened for her; she was able to get a driver’s license and a decent job. In 2006 she was diagnosed with cancer and was able to survive it because of her union healthcare plan. Now she’s fighting for herself and all the other TPS holders that are being threatened.
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Demanding a permanent solution for Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Wilna’s Story
Wilna Destin moved to Orlando from Haiti over 20 years ago and began working at her Union job as a housekeeper at Disney where she fought for dignity and respect. She’s now an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 737 continuing her fight with immigration by demanding a permanent solution for all Temporary Protected Status holders.
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UNITE HERE: Serving Our Country
Millions of workers who serve guests in the $180 billion hospitality industry serve our country. UNITE HERE, the union of hospitality industry across the United States and Canada, is proud to serve our country by winning strong Union contracts with higher wages, health benefits that keep us healthy and free from medical debt, retirement benefits and contract provisions that put an end to gender and racial inequality. Together we’re taking on the rich and powerful to fight poverty and bring greater opportunity to working people everywhere. Our fight begins … every day. Join us!
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2016

UNITE HERE Citizenship Program Welcomes 5,180 New Americans in 2016
Past and present, immigrants have been at the center of UNITE HERE’s work to end poverty and change lives. That’s why our members helped 5,180 people in more than a dozen cities complete the process of becoming U.S. citizens in 2016.
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2015

UNITE HERE: Selma 2015
Youtube

Turtle Bay, 2015
For decades, residents of the North Shore of Oahu have been fighting to keep the country and preserve good, local jobs. Learn more about the development struggle at Turtle Bay Resort and how community members and UNITE HERE Local 5 came together to fight the mainland banks and developers.
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Our Citizenship Stories, 2015
This video promotes the release of our new site, unitehereimmigration.org which provides resources for the millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States. These resources include access to legal assistance and guides that explain the citizenship application process. In this video, the stories of three immigrant workers who have benefitted from these resources are highlighted.
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Opportunities at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, 2015
The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas trains people for successful hospitality careers on the Las Vegas Strip in 12 different classifications: baker’s helper, bar apprentice, bar porter, bus person, food server, fountain worker, guest room attendant, house person/utility porter, professional cook, sommelier, steward, and wine server.
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Changing Lives in Food Service, 2015
This video features the stories of Lakisha, Nixon, Cindy and Bernie, food service workers whose lives have changed after winning a union.
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Fed Up: Immigrant Workforce Fights ICE Raid, 2015
UNITE HERE’s video documents the story of an ICE attack against immigrant workers at the Ruprecht Company, a meatpacking plant in Illinois – while in union negotiations.
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Spotlight on 2015 Organizing Victories
This video highlights three organizing victories propelled by our Union in 2015. These campaigns, spread throughout UNITE HERE’s three major divisions, show how workers have stood together against all odds to organize and achieve a better a life for themselves.
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2014

Changing Lives 2014 videos:

New York: Juana Velez
Before the union, Juana’s life was full of struggle and her growing family’s future was uncertain. Now, she’s a homeowner—twice over—and soccer mom. Find out how she did it.
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Miami: Rachelle Laurent
When Rachelle emigrated from Haiti, she had to leave her young daughter behind to find opportunity in the U.S. Find out how the union changed both of their lives.
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Oakland: Tatiana Lam
When Tatiana first took a campus job serving bagels at Cal State East Bay, times were tough. But Tatiana was courageous, leading others to stand up and form a union. Find out how her life has changed since.
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New Orleans
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We are UNITE HERE Children!, 2014
The children of UNITE HERE members talk about what their parents’ have won with their union—and what they’ll be working for in the next five years.
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2013

UNITE HERE Fights for Immigrant Rights, 2013
UNITE HERE represents over 250,000 workers across North America. Our members are diverse. We are predominantly women and people of color. We hail from all corners of the planet. Together, we are working to build a movement that will enable people of color and immigrants across North America to achieve greater equality and opportunity. For more info go here: unitehere.org/immigration
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UNITE HERE Fights for Immigrant Rights, 2013 (Spanish)
UNITE HERE representa a más de 250,000 trabajadores por todo Norteamérica. Hay diversidad en nuestra membrecía. Predominantemente somos mujeres y personas de color. Venimos de todos los rincones del planeta. Juntos, estamos trabajando para crear un movimiento que les permitirá a las personas de color e inmigrantes por todo Norteamérica obtener mayor igualdad y oportunidad. Para obtener más información: unitehere.org/es/quienes-somos/inmigracion/
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Culinary Extra Clinic, 2013
The Culinary Extra Clinic is a new clinic for you, if you have a serious health problem and are a Culinary Health Fund participant. We offer primary care to help keep you healthy and care for you when you are sick, including regular checkups and physicals, and we help you take care of your chronic illnesses. We also help coordinate your care in the hospital and with specialists when you need it. We have a staff of caring doctors, nurses and health coaches who speak your language and are there to work with you and help you reach your health goals.
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2012

My Chicago, 2012
UNITE HERE members in the hospitality industry want to welcome you to their great city!
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2010

Adios Arpaio, 2010
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Hotel Workers Win Minimum Wage in Long Beach, 2010
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2006 – 2008

We’re Going To Be Neutral
Workers at LA’s Glendale Hilton Hotel ‘go public’ with their demands to organize a union without management interference.
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Immigrant Hotel Workers Lobby Day
Hotel workers of many nationalities walk the halls of Congress to lobby for comprehensive immigration reform.
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Surveillance
Managers and security personnel at the non-union Glendale Hilton are caught in the act of photographing and writing down names of workers on a picket line.
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LAX Organizing Actions
Organizing committees in three LAX-area hotels ‘go public’ with coordinated delegations to management, and follow up a ‘walk & work’ action.
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I Am A Human Being
Thousands march to support hotel workers and demand a Living Wage in LA’s Century Corridor; hundreds are arrested in the largest civil disobedience action in the city’s history.
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Hilton LAX Travel Advisory
A message to meeting planners and travel agents about conditions guests might encounter at the LAX Hilton, where workers are fighting to organize a union.
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Sharing The Banquet
Chicago clergy kick-off a collective effort to support hotel workers and describe how their involvement reflects and affirms their different faith traditions.
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Fasting For Justice
Sixteen non-union workers from the LAX corridor hotels undertake a weeklong fast to fight for a Living Wage.
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The Las Vegas Dream, 2007
An inspiring history of the Culinary Union, produced for the union’s 2007 convention.
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Beating Hyatt’s Refresh Program
Room attendants from Russia, Ethiopia and Mexico describe their working conditions and what they did to change them.
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Si Se Pudo 2
Rank and file leaders of successful organizing drives talk about overcoming fear, staying united, and the rewards of winning.
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United We Stand!
Local 261’s successful month-long strike at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel.
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2004 – 2006

Rise Up! Hilton Victory
Hilton workers throughout North America support their brothers and sisters in Chicago and Hawaii in their flight for strong contracts.
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Face To Face With Century Plaza Owners
A delegation of room attendants and other workers, accompanied by Jesse Jackson, demands and gets unplanned meeting with the owners of the Century Plaza Hotel.
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One Union, One Fight
How workers at Starwood’s Sheraton Universal City fought back against harassment, suspensions, and firings during the 2004-06 contract campaign in Los Angeles.
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Si Se Pudo! / We Did It!
Rank and file leaders of the successful 2004-06 contract campaign in Los Angeles talk about courage, leadership, and organizing.
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Hotel Housekeepers: Illness and Injury
Veteran room attendants describe their work-related disabilities and the disrespectful way they are treated by supervisors and managers.
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Tribute To Miguel Contreras
A moving tribute to the late leader of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
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Standing Together
Community, clergy and political activists show why they stand with workers – and how their own work and organizations benefit from the solidarity.
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One Day Longer: Atlantic City
Local 54’s successful month-long strike against Atlantic City casinos in the fall of 2004.
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Hotel Workers Rising: A New Movement
Danny Glover narrates the story behind the Hotel Workers Rising movement.
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HWR National Kickoff Tour
Danny Glover and former Senator John Edwards join hotel workers at rallies and other actions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.
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2003 – 2004

Los Angeles Freedom Ride
Workers travel from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. and New York as part of the 2003 national Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.
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Everywhere We Go: Bay Area Freedom Ride
Workers from the Bay Area travel by bus to Washington D.C. and New York as part of the 2003 national Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.
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The Las Vegas Freedom Ride
Workers from Las Vegas cross the country to Washington D.C. and New York as part of the 2003 national Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.
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Looking Back, Moving Forward
The proud history of two unions, UNITE and HEREIU, that set the tone for the merger convention in July 2004.
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2001 – 2003

Power To Win
Local 2850’s organizing campaign at the Berkeley Radisson Hotel.
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In Their Hands
A powerful portrait of the lives and work of room attendants – the heart of the Las Vegas hospitality industry.
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Hungry For Justice
Local 1 opens a new chapter in Chicago’s labor history with its successful 2002 city-wide contract campaign.
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1999 – 2001

People Have The Power
Building the union in San Francisco: Local 2’s fight at the Marriott Hotel.
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Here’s Los Angeles
Labor journalist Harold Meyerson’s analysis of the labor movement in Los Angeles in 2001.
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Out Of The Shadows
In Minneapolis, Local 17 and community supporters defend the rights of immigrant workers targeted for participating in a union organizing drive.
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Afuera De Las Sombras
Spanish subtitled version of Out of the Shadows.
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Windows
The families and colleagues of immigrant workers who perished on 9/11 while working at Windows on the World restaurant talk about their loss, their dreams, and their challenges.
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Ventanas
Spanish subtitled version of Windows.
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1991 – 1999

Turning Point: Victory At The Horseshoe
The dramatic story of the 1990 strike that would shape the future of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas.
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City On The Edge
The infamous campaign video that anticipated the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and helped Local 11 win a critical control fight.
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Bad Moon Rising
The Culinary Union’s comprehensive campaign against Sheldon Adelson and the Venetian Hotel.
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One Day Longer: The Frontier Strike
The remarkable story of the strike at the Frontier Casino in Las Vegas, which lasted six years, four months, and ten days.
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