Workers want change
Barney Beck
Hyatt Regency Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain Joint Board
The disaffiliation of the Rocky Mountain Joint Board from UNITE HERE is 100% necessary to continue as a strong union. We need to fight for the Employee Free Choice Act, and that is something that Wilhelm is not willing to do.
While we need to be deliberate and cautious with a future SEIU affiliation, it is our strongest option.
Caroline Booth
Hyatt Hotel, Philadelphia Joint Board, union member for 8 years
The Philadelphia Joint Board will give us a better future for our family, for our brother and sister union members. And for the brothers and sisters who are not union, we will go and organize them-- help their voice be heard. We will work for justice.
Chris Owens
casino worker, shop steward, member 2 years
I am signing the petition to disaffiliate because the old union gives you no representation-- no protection as I see it.
Denise Graham
Front Desk, Doubletree Hotel, Pittsburgh
Working with SEIU will help protect the gains we've made with the Joint Board. We are happy with the partnership we've built in Pittsburgh. Our Joint Board leadership helped us negotiate a great contract. I want to work with SEIU to keep our union moving forward.
Dennis Brooks
Hilton Newark Penn Station
We have to resolve the issues within the union to move forward with our goals and organize the whole city of Newark. And we need to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the cities in New Jersey to show them the progress we've made. We can be an example to show them that unions are good. That's why we need to work with President Obama to get the Free Choice Act passed.
Donald Myers
Operator, Bemis Inc. Exec Board Member NYNJ Joint Board
I feel great! I want to thank everyone working nationwide to make this new union happen. We will be stronger and continue to fight for the rights of workers.
¡Me siento bien! Quiero darle las gracias a todos los que están trabajando a nivel nacional para crear esta nueva unión. Seremos mas fuertes y seguiremos luchando para los derechos de el trabajador.
Hyacinth James
Concierge, Short Hills Hilton, NJ
I want to see the union get stronger and do more organizing because there are people out there who want to get into the union but still can't. If we organize more and get stronger, we'll be up and on our way!
Isabel M. Peña
Laundry worker, Western States Regional Joint Board member of 20 years
It's important to be part of a union because we get better benefits, to get representation inside our worksite, and so that employers respect us.
Jeffrey Lyon
LSG Sky Chefs, Salt Lake City, Rocky Mountain Joint Board
This vote that we cast today is very important for the future. It is time to take action to better ourselves. We took a stand and voted to disaffiliate from UNITE HERE and work towards the process of making our union stronger by becoming members of SEIU. They will listen to us and what we want, not what our companies want.
Kristie Fleck
Delaware North, Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain Joint Board
We can fight for strong contracts for all workers, no matter where they live, what industry they work in, or what part of the union they come from. We want to fight for good union contracts that are negotiated before they expire for months, or even years.
As we move forward with this process I think it is important to think about an affiliation with SEIU. They are much larger and a powerful union that will help us continue to build a strong labor movement for all workers!
Martín Rubio
Laundry worker, Western States Regional Joint Board member for 8 years
For us the union is the efforts of the members that get involved, not the conditions inside the offices of the locals; we are the real owners of the locals.
Mary Carter
Cook, Westin Hotel, Pittsburg Local 57 member for 22years
Since we merged with the Joint Board we've made big improvements. Uniting with SEIU will allow us to keep moving forward and take on our challenges.
Norma Milligan
Brooklyn, NY. Laundry, Drycleaning & Allied Workers Joint Board, member for 33 years
It is not about just us, it is not for this generation, it is for the future generation. We as laundry workers have been on the back burner for too long.
I know how important our union is and I am ready to do what it takes to make the Employee Free Choice Act law.
Ofelia Quintanilla
Production at AmeriPride, Local 2732 Phoenix
I signed for the purpose of moving us forward - me and all of my co-workers.
Rhonda Young
Bartender, Red Rocks Bar & BBQ Austin, TX
We cannot fall back into a union that does not service workers, lies to workers or just don't care about us 'little' shops!'
I've been a member for 6 yrs and I know how it used to be. Workers United and it's folks mean change, it's what's inside the union that counts, and Unite Here is just the same old thing that has only hurt us workers.
Workers United cares about all the workers, little shops, smaller states, Everyone! Here we have a voice, participate in the negotiation of our contracts.
Ruby Sims
Men's Suits, Hart Schaffner & Marx, Des Plaines, Il Pres. Local 39C
With Workers United we can focus on the most important issue of our time for workers, passing the Employee Free Choice Act.
Sharen DeCarlo
Banquet Server, Pittsburgh Convention Center, member 21 years
For the first time we have a pension in our shop, we are organizing new members and winning better contracts. We need to be prepared for our next contract fight and the challenges ahead of us.
Tony Santos
Aramark, Philadelphia Joint Board, union member 25 years
We have a different vision for our union. We want to build this union, grow this union. Anyone that wants to be a part of that is welcome. In order to do what we feel is best for our future, we need Workers United.
Virgil Nelson
Distribution, Fingerhut Corp, Pres. Local 978 St. Cloud, MN
UNITE HERE wasn't addressing the needs of the members. We're glad to be in a new union that puts the members first!
William Kirby
Manufactoring, Bemis Company, Pres. Local 1426 Terre Haute, IN.
Workers United will give us the chance to actually work with an administration that cares about working people.