UNITE HERE Local 11🔹 Corporate conquistadors on a quest for cash

The humble hospitality workers on strike in their familiar red shirts may represent the public face of UNITE HERE Local 11, but they’re only one part of the picture.

The labor union’s raucous, borderline-belligerent protests, which have proven so effective at forcing concessions from corporations and politicians, are by no means the work of a grassroots organization.

They’re the product of a massive corporate bureaucracy and a political apparatus that has given its leaders back-door access to all levels of government. Unlike the workers they represent, Local 11’s top brass are roundly pulling in upwards of six figures a year. And like any big business, UNITE HERE is pursuing one overall goal: expansion.

THE BIZ

Local 11 has just over 20,000 members working in hospitality at one of more than 100 major hotels, restaurants and convention centers in Southern California and Arizona. That list includes the Disneyland resorts, Dodger Stadium, and the 1 Hotel and the Andaz in West Hollywood.

Each member pays the union anywhere between $40.40 and $85.50 every month, not including initiation and other fees. Local 11 had $29.5 million in revenue as of its last filing with the U.S. Labor Department. It’s far from the heydey before COVID, when they counted more than 28,000 members. By the end of 2020, they were down to just 8,440.

In terms of recovery from the lockdowns, Local 11 has lagged far behind UNITE HERE chapters in San Francisco and San Diego. A report by the Center for Union Facts showed President Donald Taylor collected total compensation of $278,507.   The report also found cause for worry in Unite Here 11’s finances: the union’s liabilities amounted to $6 million at the beginning of 2022. By the end of the year, that had increased to almost $9 million.

But that didn’t stop its leaders from giving themselves raises in the midst of a pandemic while increasing fees for members.  As reported by the Anaheim Observer:

Co-president Ada Briceño got a 10.5% salary boost in 2021, from $118,005 to $130,431 – which followed a $4,000 pay bump in 2020.

Co-presidents Susan Minato and Kurt Peterson got 16% pay raises in 2021, each going from $116,587 to $135,122.

Local 11’s money problems have forced its leaders to find new sources of income. The union was behind a recent ballot measure in Anaheim meant to compel the city’s hotels and event centers into signing collective bargaining agreements. The ballot measure was defeated by wide margins.

Local 11 employs a variety of tactics in its advocacy efforts. These range from traditional methods such as collective bargaining and contract negotiations to public awareness campaigns, political lobbying, and demonstrations. The union has been involved in various strikes, protests, and other forms of public action to express its concerns and goals.

Many members are immigrants, and the union’s agenda often extends beyond workplace issues to include advocacy for immigrant rights. In the past, Local 11 has supported policies that aim to protect undocumented workers and has participated in campaigns promoting pathways to citizenship.

Politically, Local 11 is active in endorsing candidates who align with its objectives and encourages its members to vote. The union has a political action committee that engages in fundraising to support campaigns and issues that are in line with its goals. It has been involved in lobbying at various levels of government, aiming to influence legislation that impacts its members or the broader workforce.

A majority of West Hollywood City Council’s members were elected on the strength of operational and media support by UNITE HERE. The union was able to parlay its close ties with Council into getting the controversial minimum wage ordinance passed. They repeated the strategy in Santa Monica.

UNITE HERE is known for their confrontational methods of striking a deal — a mix of legal actions, disruptive public demonstrations and media outreach.

UNITE HERE’S ORIGIN

The organization was formed in 2004 through the merger of two other unions: the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE) and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE).

The roots of the two original unions extend back into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, times of significant labor unrest and the formation of unions across various industries in the United States. HERE was initially established in 1891 as a way to provide representation for workers in the rapidly expanding hotel and restaurant industries. Over the years, it campaigned for higher wages, better working conditions, and other workers’ rights, becoming one of the more influential unions in these sectors.

UNITE had its origins in the textile and garment industries, with lineage tracing back to the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA). Both ILGWU and ACWA were founded in the early 20th century and were instrumental in improving conditions for workers in the garment industry, which was notorious for its sweatshops and poor working conditions. These unions later merged to form UNITE.

The merger in 2004 was aimed at consolidating resources and leveraging collective strength. Both unions had similar goals but represented different sectors.

UNITE HERE has also faced its share of challenges, including internal divisions and external criticism. For example, in 2009, a significant portion of the union broke away to form a new organization, Workers United, which later affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The split was the result of disagreements over strategy and leadership within UNITE HERE.

Despite such challenges, UNITE HERE has continued to be a significant player in the American and Canadian labor movements. It has local chapters in various states and provinces, each with its own set of challenges and opportunities, but all operating under the broader umbrella and objectives of the parent organization.