NEW YORK, NY - Statement from Edgar Romney, President, Workers United:
“Yesterday, Workers United made history again with an affiliation with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) one of the most powerful, dynamic and vibrant labor organizations in the world.
“The agreement creates the Workers United Conference of SEIU. Through this affiliation, we make a big, strong union even bigger and stronger. And now a whole new group of workers in the garment, textile, laundry, distribution, food service and hospitality industries will be able to harness the incredible power of SEIU as they seek to improve their jobs and their lives. With this affiliation we will have the support of SEIU, and there is no question that we will be stronger together.
“Both unions share a history of not only transforming working conditions but also bringing change to entire industries. Nearly 100 years ago, the predecessor unions that became Workers United exposed sweatshops in the garment industry and rallied whole cities to demand improved conditions and safety for the workers. More recently, Workers United affiliates have transformed the commercial laundry industry organizing workers in many North American cities including in anti-union strongholds in the South and Southwest.
“Similarly, SEIU has transformed the property services industry through incredible international campaigns for janitorial and security workers.
“Unfortunately, hospitality workers have not witnessed a similar transformation of their industries outside of a few metropolitan areas. Though there are cities in the U.S. and Canada where a majority of workers in the high end, full service hotels are organized, millions of hotel, hospitality and gaming workers in other geographic areas and types of properties have been left to fend for themselves.
“Now, as these industries change and consolidate, property services workers and hospitality workers share many managers and owners. These changes demand the unification of Workers United and SEIU to embark on new initiatives to achieve together what they have done on their own in the past: to transform an entire industry. This agreement positions the unions to work together more closely, while also maintaining the autonomy and constitution of Workers United.
“SEIU and affiliates of Workers United have already begun working together through a vigorous campaign to organize food service workers. This revolutionary campaign recognized that workers in each union’s core jurisdictions (building services, laundry and food services) were all being employed by the same multi-service companies. Coming together, we have organized nearly 20,000 workers in this industry in the last few years.
“This is the kind of success we will replicate. It is workers uniting, and becoming stronger together. This affiliation agreement lays out a framework for two unions to realize all that those four words can mean.”
Why have SEIU and Workers United Affiliated?
A common mission, a common history and common challenges in this new economy bring Workers United and SEIU together to achieve their mutual goal of bringing dignity and security to members and workers in the garment, textile, laundry, distribution, property services and hospitality industries.
SEIU and Workers United share a mission of fighting to protect some of the most exploited workers in our nation doing some of the most difficult, demanding and dangerous jobs. We have both fought for women, people of color, and immigrants who have sought their entry point to the American dream. We have both built our work on fulfilling the dreams of workers who struggle in low-wage jobs, but aspire to turn those jobs into a vehicle to give their families a better life.
SEIU and Workers United share a history of transforming working conditions and bringing change to entire industries. Workers United was born from some of the oldest and most important unions of our country. Beginning nearly 100 years ago, these predecessor unions transformed our economy by exposing sweatshops in the garment industry and rallied an entire nation to demand improved conditions and safety for workers. More recently, Workers United affiliates have transformed the commercial laundry industry by organizing workers in many North American cities including in anti-union strongholds in the South and Southwest. Similarly, SEIU has transformed the building services trades, including incredible global campaigns for janitorial and security workers.
SEIU and Workers United know that together our members can increase their strength and their prospects for the future. The consolidation of power and ownership has property services workers and hospitality workers sharing many of the same managers and owners. Working side by side in many properties, SEIU and Workers United Members can help each other meet the challenges of the modern economy and join their voices in speaking out to their employers.
SEIU and affiliates of Workers United have already begun working together through Service Workers United. This revolutionary campaign, which has organized nearly 20,000 workers already, recognized that workers in each union’s core jurisdictions (building services, laundry and food services) were all being employed by the same multi-service companies. Service Workers United is a model of success that heralds the tremendous potential of this alliance to transform an entire industry.
SEIU and Workers United together can change the future for working people in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Today, the new economy and the economic crisis before us present new challenges. Globalization, consolidation and eight years of an economic race to the bottom have left workers once again at the mercy of exploitive bosses who sit remote in their multinational firms caring little for the prosperity of their workers and only for their profit margin. Throughout the U.S. and Canada, millions of hotel, hospitality and gaming workers have been left to fend for themselves. Together we can give those workers a voice and a chance to fulfill their own dreams.
SEIU and Workers United stand at a transformational moment in our history, facing tremendous challenges, but poised to redefine how this country values work and the hardworking women and men who can restore prosperity to our nation. SEIU and Worker’s United know our wealth is work. Together we can transform our nation and turn hundreds of thousands of low-wage jobs into the good, family-sustaining, middle class jobs that will help achieve economic and social justice for our members now and into the future.