Is UNITE HERE a good union? Also, a practical question.

[CynicalIdealist]

So UNITE HERE came to my campus, and talked with our radical group about organizing the workers here. Their basic plan involves "building community across counters," in that they want the students and the food service workers to build camaraderie so that the workers can muster the bravery to possibly form a union in the long term. Basically, they're about planting seeds.

Now, a new member of our radical group thinks that we should just have a student movement, petitions, etc. and go to college administration, demanding a change in contract. His hope is that the college would hire a new contractor that retains the whole workforce (including the illegal immigrants) and allows for unionization, but really, is it realistic for students alone to affect change in that sense? Shouldn't we abide by the Karl Marx philosophy that: "The emancipation of the working class must be the act of the workers themselves?"

In short, is UNITE HERE a good union, and is a longterm approach of helping the workers gain the confidence to unionize better or worse than simply approaching administration for a contract stage with a gargantuan list of signatures?

[redasheville]

I'm not sure if I have a complete picture of the situation on campus to comment on that. However, UNITE HERE, like most unions is a contradictory organization. They are definitely in line with the mainstream of the labor movemnt and all that entails.that being said, UNITE HERE has been more militant about defending their workers in contract fights, and they have a strategy of building support withcommunity at large, including support of student struggles.

I will say that it would be stupid to not accept the support of UH and not help them in their organizing.

[Q]

For anyone outside North-America that wonders what this is about (like me): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNITE_HERE

[Dean]

There is no UNITE HERE now. Well there wont be soon. Talks are resolved, though - it will be breaking up. You need to know which organization (Union of Needletrade, Industrial and Textile Employees OR Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees).

Neither are in the AFL-CIO anymore, which was outed as funding the National Endowment for Democracy (an anti-worker counterrevolutionary fund to combat working class interests in South America). I believe that both used to be, but I know that UNITE was for sure.

I campaigned with UNITE back when it was still ILGWU. They do good work - organizing and picketing. They're a business - oriented union, though, which is a given.

What I always remember about the AFL-CIO conventions was that our union was the only one which actually brought along union members regularly. Furthermore, I recall being the only represented organization whose union shirts were worn at the conventions - all the other union reps wore suits.

What I can say is that UNITE at least takes a serious approach to organizing, which is uncommon these days.

[redasheville]

correction: UNITE HERE are a part of the AFL CIO.

[DaringMehring]

UNITE HERE is definitely on the "fighting" end of the spectrum. I've worked with them, and I can say, they're more member-driven, and combative, than some others. They rep low-wage workers generally, and there's always battles to be fought.

Of course its not a socialist organization and you have a lot of faith put in the Democrats, for instance. However, it's a pretty good "ground zero of today's labor struggle." I recommend getting involved... you will come into contact with some good fighters, and low-wage workers, for sure.

[syndicat]

not sure if UNITE HERE kept that name but it's run by the HERE half, that is, the hotel & hospitality industry part. this has become a fairly lean organization (having lost subsidies they formerly received from SEIU). and they are combative and are oriented to worker moblization but I would not say they are member-driven. my familiarity is mainly with Local 2 which is a totally staff driven organization. they don't even have elected shop stewards any more. but they are very dedicated to winning contract improvements and mobilizing workers to fight. but it's done in a top down way.

[Dean]

not sure if UNITE HERE kept that name but it's run by the HERE half, that is, the hotel & hospitality industry part. this has become a fairly lean organization (having lost subsidies they formerly received from SEIU). and they are combative and are oriented to worker moblization but I would not say they are member-driven. my familiarity is mainly with Local 2 which is a totally staff driven organization. they don't even have elected shop stewards any more. but they are very dedicated to winning contract improvements and mobilizing workers to fight. but it's done in a top down way.

They are going to break up. Joining HERE was apparently a disaster for UNITE.

UNITE (or at least some of what was UNITE, apparently) is going to join the SEIU.

In 1983 it became the Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board. When the Joint Board was founded it was affiliated with the Textile Workers Union of America. In 1976, that union merged with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers to form the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, ACTWU. In 1995, ACTWU merged with ILGWU to form the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, which shortly thereafter became UNITE. In 2004 UNITE merged with another union, HERE, to form UNITE HERE. Finally, in 2009, the Joint Board affiliated with Workers United, itself an affiliate of SEIU.
http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Regional%20Decisions/2009/05-RM-01024-08-17-09.pdf

It has always been this organization which I've worked with, and the activism has been good.

The UFCW also has good activism but shoddy membership representation in my own (small) experience with them. Though a friend of mine is joining a post there, and I'm certain she'll be working to make things better, as she has done elsewhere.

[Red Rebel]

is it realistic for students alone to affect change in that sense? Shouldn't we abide by the Karl Marx philosophy that: "The emancipation of the working class must be the act of the workers themselves?"


"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together" by the aboriginal Australian activist Lilla Watson.

It depends how you look at it, one way is the top down approach of telling workers this is what they should want and this is what you'll give them. The other option is working in solidarity. If there is interest amongst the workers, stand in solidarity with them.

You'd be suprised how universities will eventually bow down to student power.

Petitions are also bloody worthless. The people you give them to political leaders, university presidents, ect. (basically assholes) don't care about people. Petitions are good for getting contact info, get people's email and tell them about handing the petitions in, a rally/march, or banner drop.

UNITE HERE just got done with a bad split with Workers United (http://workers-united.org/)joining SEIU; however, that is done with. Overall I'd say that they are one of the better unions within the AFL-CIO. In case you didn't need to be reminded, they did come to your radical group for help. :thumbup:

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The UFCWThe UFCW signs minimum wage contracts, which when you subtract union dues means the workers under them make less than minimum wage.

They usually have little to no contact with their workers in retail and grocery as well (and probably other areas.. I have personal experience with these). When asked about the union at a department store a friend of mine got a job at, workers who had been there for years were absolutely puzzled. Finally, one worker said "oh yea, it's called FICA. I see dues being deducted for it on every paycheck!" (FICA is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax, charged to both employees and employers to fund Medicare and Social Security). They literally had no idea what union they belonged to.

A family member at a supermarket worked a year and a half without ever seeing anyone from the union.

Typical shit.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

On the OP, union tops love to recruit idealistic college students to do their organizing. They can then use them as they please and fire them when they're done with them. It's much better than relying on the workers themselves to be organizers, which can quickly spin out of their control. Something to think about.