UNITE HERE Rejoins AFL-CIO

The last day of the AFL-CIO Convention September 17 opened with a big bang as newly elected AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka stood on stage with UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm to make the dramatic announcement that UNITE HERE is reaffiliating with the federation. The 250,000-member UNITE HERE was one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to form a new federation.

Trumka, who said he developed a special bond with Wilhelm around the struggle for Horse Shoe and Frontier Hotel workers in Las Vegas more than 15 years ago, hailed the reaffiliation, saying, “The solidarity of the American labor movement is about to grow. It pained me personally when UNITE HERE left this federation four years ago—and I can’t think of a more uplifting way to begin this day than by welcoming UNITE HERE back to our union family as an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.”

Trumka noted the importance of unity within the labor movement as workers are hit hard by a bad economy, the lack of freedom to form unions and Republican’s continual attack on working people.
“A united labor movement will serve the interests of working people during this time of incredible opportunity and progress,” Trumka said.

Wilhelm said, “In UNITE HERE, we know what a fighter for workers Rich Trumka is, and we pledge to stand with him and fight with him to get workers what they deserve: a piece of the American dream. Solidarity will always overcome division… our union will continue to be a strong and growing member in the house of labor.”

The affiliation marks a huge step forward in the push for unaffiliated unions to rejoin the AFL-CIO. In the coming months, Trumka will continue to lead conversations on reaffilation to strengthen the labor movement and fight for an economy that works for all.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council met and approved the reaffiliation and using its authority under the AFL-CIO Constitution, expanded membership on the Executive Council and Executive Committee and named Wilhelm to those seats.

UNITE HERE represents more than 250,000 workers in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry and airport industries.

- James Parks, http:/blog.aflcio.org