Mayor Emanuel holds Town Hall with UNITE HERE Local 1, discussing future of tourism in Chicago

Rahm visitsOn Dec. 9, more than 100 hospitality workers who are members of UNITE HERE Local 1 in Chicago took part in a Town Hall meeting with Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Together they discussed working to grow Chicago’s tourism and convention business. The meeting marks the first time in UNITE HERE Local 1’s history that a Chicago mayor met with workers, and it was the first town hall meeting that Mayor Emanuel has held with any Chicago union.

 “You and I have the same agenda,” Sheraton cocktail server Diane Chestnut told Mayor Emanuel. “We want people coming back.”

Diane, who shared a story with the Mayor about cooking soul food for singer Harry Belafonte, was just one Local 1 member who talked about going the extra mile for Chicago’s visitors. Kenneth Williams, a Doubletree bellman, told the Mayor how he helped a young man set up a romantic evening to propose to his girlfriend.  Others highlighted the essential role that hospitality workers play wooing meeting planners and retaining convention business.

“We got a world class city, but the most important thing is that we have world class workers that can take care of our visitors and bring them back,” said Walter Underwood, a banquet server with 26 years of service at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.

Mayor Emanuel shared his own vision for hospitality and tourism in Chicago.

 “People always tell me how beautiful the city is and how nice we are. And, I know you are the first contact…You are essential to that strategy,” said the Mayor.

Mayor Emanuel promised to return to meet with UNITE HERE Local 1 and work together to ensure the city’s hospitality industry thrives.

 

For more photos from the event, click here.

Standing up for our families: Get information about a new law affecting immigrants!

photoOn December 3rd, a new law takes effect in Illinois which allows immigrants to apply for drivers licenses. Our union supports this law, just as we have stood to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Come to a training at the union if either yourself or someone you know is interested in learning more about this new law.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 19th or Wednesday, November 20th

TIME: 5pm-6pm

WHERE: Local 1 office, 218 S. Wabash, 7th Floor

For more information, call Vinay at 312-656-2425.

CPS lunchroom workers: Kid-approved fresh food program needs more staff!

This summer, Chicago Public Schools took its school food program in an exciting new direction by nearly eliminating frozen, pre-plated meals from its lunchrooms. Yet, just two weeks before launching the program at the start of the school year, CPS also announced the layoff of 200 lunchroom workers. The results of a survey of 500 lunchroom workers show the impact these changes have had on students and lunchroom workers across the district.

UNITE HERE joins thousands in Illinois to push for Marriage Equality

 Marriage Equality MarchOn Valentine’s Day the Illinois Senate, with Governor Pat Quinn’s support, approved Senate Bill 11—the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” However, the bill never passed the Illinois House of Representatives.

Now Illinois residents and UNITE HERE members are taking action. On October 22, thousands across the state traveled to the state capital to march for Marriage Equality and demand that lawmakers take action. 50 members from Chicago’s UNITE HERE Local 1 traveled to Springfield to join thousands for the demonstration. Together, we showed our elected leaders that Illinois citizens support the right for all to marry the one they love.

 To see pictures from the day, check out this album on Facebook HERE.

UNITE HERE is committed to full equality for all LGBT people. Our union was the first to ratify a comprehensive statement in support of civil and economic rights for LGBT people, and we contributed significant funds and organizing resources to defeating Proposition 8 in California. In both the United States and Canada, members of our union have worked to build a powerful coalition between the LGBT and labor communities in our quest for fair and equal treatment of all individuals. In the last decade, UNITE HERE launched Sleep With The Right People in partnership with renowned LGBT rights activist Cleve Jones. This collaborative effort between UNITE HERE and the LGBT community works to use our joint power as consumers to ensure that hotels respect their workers.

To learn more, visit www.SleepWithTheRightPeople.org.

March on Springfield for Marriage Equality

march on springfield for marriage equalitylogoOn Valentine’s Day the Illinois Senate, with Governor Pat Quinn’s support, approved Senate Bill 11, the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.” However, the bill never passed the Illinois House of Representatives. We’ve still got work to do!

On Tuesday, October 22, 2013, we’re joining thousands to March on Springfield for Marriage Equality to show our elected officials in Springfield that Illinois citizens support the right for all to marry the one they love.

October 22 is the scheduled first day of the fall veto session of the Illinois State Legislature. The “March on Springfield” is part of a broad grassroots strategy to secure final passage of Illinois Senate Bill 10, the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” already approved by the Illinois Senate and with Governor Pat Quinn’s support. Once adopted, Illinois will become the 14th state, plus the District of Columbia, to treat all of its citizens equally under state marriage laws.

To find out how you can get involved, call the union office at 312-663-4373 or CLICK HERE.

 

UNITE HERE Local 1 to join community and elected officials at Mega March on October 12 for Dignity and Respect for Immigrant Families

MayDay2013Following a national day of action on October 5 in which thousands across the country stood for comprehensive immigration reform, the Chicago community will escalate the call for action with a Mega March on October 12. UNITE HERE Local 1 will join Latino elected officials, clergy, and DREAM students to send a clear message to House Republicans to stop holding immigration reform hostage and bring it for a vote.

The October 12 March for Dignity, Respect, and Justice for Immigrants will show that Chicagoans are demanding quick action to pass an immigration reform bill that contains a path to citizenship and keeps families together.

The march will begin at Teamster City (300 S. Ashland) at 12:00 PM and proceed down Jackson to Federal Plaza for a rally at 3:00 PM. Join us!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

TEAMSTER CITY, 300 S. ASHLAND

12:00 PM – MARCH TO START AT 2:00 PM

RALLY AT FEDERAL PLAZA, 3:00 PM

After over a decade at UNITE HERE Health, Maggie Vega leaves legacy of giving members the care they deserve

Maggie2good-2For over a decade Maggie Vega has made it her mission to make sure that UNITE HERE Local 1 and Local 450 members receive the care they need. She goes above and beyond to ensure that union members know what resources are available for any needs they may have.

“I’m not doing anybody a favor,” Maggie said about her work. “These are their rights. This is what they’ve worked for. These are their rights as union members.”

Reflecting on her years with UNITE HERE Health, she shared a few stories of members who turned to Maggie and her staff for guidance.

One man walked into the Health Fund offices after his wife was shot and killed in her garage at their home looking for help. It was around Easter and he had children. He was devastated about the loss of his wife. Maggie was able guide him to find the support and therapy he needed.

Another member lost coverage and couldn’t pay for care. A Customer Service Representative was able to get the American Cancer Association to pay the premiums for this individual to continue to get the care they needed.

Maggie has connected people with every kind of resource from food pantries to suicide help hotlines. She taught her staff to go above and beyond for union members just as she does.

One man, who had a terminal illness, wanted to see his son who lives in China before he passed. A Customer Service Representative reached out to UNITE HERE’s legal fund, the Red Cross, and the Chinese and American Embassies to find a way for father and son to connect. The Representative was able to get the two men to meet and speak through Skype.

After 16 years with UNITE HERE Health, Maggie is retiring. While she will miss her work with union members she is confident that her staff will continue providing the care that she has spearheaded.

“I know the staff is going to continue to do what I have taught them,” Maggie said. “They have big hearts.”

Maggie opened the Chicago office for Locals 1 and 450 to help over 9,000 working people in the area get access to the health care they have earned. It grew from a one-person show to the full service office it is today – “It’s what people really deserve,” she said.

Maggie’s own father was a HERE member, working as a waiter. And, her uncle and godfather were HERE members, too. She deeply understands the impact of simply knowing your rights and what the available are resources can have on a family.

“You have to love to help people. You have to love union people. Union people are special,” Maggie said.  “This must have been my path to be with the union.”

Share your Maggie story with us by e-mailing [email protected]!