WASHINGTON — The hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, a rejoinder to Republican Donald Trump’s effort to woo restaurant and hotel workers by promising to make their tips tax-free.
Gwen Mills, the union’s president, said Trump was merely “making a play” for votes while Harris has credibility from having supported unions. She discussed the move with The Associated Press before the union’s announcement of an endorsement.
The endorsement includes a commitment by the union to have its members knock on more than 3.3 million doors for Harris in swing states that include Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina.
Trump, the former president, proposed excluding tips from federal income taxes during a June 9 rally in Nevada. Both of Nevada’s Democratic senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, have supported Trump’s idea, a sign of its potential popularity.
“To those hotel workers and people who get tips, you are going to be very happy, because when I get to office we are going to not charge taxes on tips, people making tips,” Trump said at the event.
The Biden administration has countered that tipped workers would be better off with a higher minimum wage. President Joe Biden stepped down from the ballot roughly two weeks ago and Harris, whose portfolio as vice president includes organized labor, has embraced many of his existing economic proposals. In speeches, she also has pushed for rules to make it easier for workers to unionize.
After replacing Biden, Harris has swiftly consolidated what can be a fractious Democratic coalition, including lining up support from labor unions. The AFL-CIO, which counts UNITE HERE as a member, has endorsed Harris after having backed Biden. The United Auto Workers on Wednesday formally backed the vice president.
The Harris campaign and its allies have previously indicated that the election’s outcome will hinge on which side generates superior turnout, which is where UNITE HERE believes it can help Democrats.
Rashad Eaton, 43, first canvassed for Democrat John Fetterman’s successful campaign for a Pennsylvania Senate seat in the 2022 elections. A resident of Philadelphia and UNITE HERE member, Eaton works for the food vendor Aramark at basketball, hockey and football games.
He said he hears from voters on a range of issues, like gun violence and corporate greed, but he’ll be canvassing for Harris because “Trump is trying to destroy everything.”
The hospitality industry is one of the largest and most important sectors of the economy, employing millions of workers across the country. These workers, including servers, bartenders, housekeepers, and other service staff, play a crucial role in providing a positive experience for guests and customers. However, they often face low wages, long hours, and difficult working conditions.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement among hospitality workers to organize and advocate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. One of the most prominent organizations representing these workers is Unite Here, a union that represents over 300,000 workers in the hotel, gaming, food service, and airport industries.
Recently, Unite Here announced its support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and criticized President Donald Trump’s pledge to change the policy on tipping in the hospitality industry. Trump’s proposal would allow employers to take control of tips earned by workers and distribute them as they see fit, potentially leading to lower wages for workers.
Unite Here has been a vocal critic of this policy, arguing that it would harm workers and undermine their ability to earn a fair wage. The union has also praised Harris for her support of workers’ rights and her commitment to improving conditions for hospitality workers.
In a statement, Unite Here President D. Taylor said, “Hospitality workers deserve to earn a fair wage for their hard work, and they should not have to rely on tips to make ends meet. We stand with Kamala Harris in her fight to protect workers’ rights and ensure that all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”
The support of Unite Here and other labor organizations is a significant boost for Harris’s campaign, as she seeks to differentiate herself from other Democratic candidates and appeal to working-class voters. It also highlights the growing importance of labor issues in the 2020 election, as workers across various industries continue to push for better pay and working conditions.
Overall, the hospitality workers’ union’s support for Harris and criticism of Trump’s tip policy pledge underscores the importance of protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that all employees are treated fairly in the workplace. As the election season heats up, it will be interesting to see how these issues play out on the national stage and what impact they will have on the future of the hospitality industry.
