UNITE HERE Staff Respond to New York Times Article

An Open Letter:
It is a tremendous disappointment to Unite Here staff members represented by our staff union, UUHS, that Steven Greenhouse and The New York Times chose to publish such a one-sided piece about alleged practices within Unite Here. His story is founded on trumped-up claims made by disgruntled former staffers, one of whom currently works for SEIU, and another who helped SEIU interfere with an organizing campaign.

We are shocked by Mr. Greenhouse’s irresponsible reporting and lack of journalistic integrity. Greenhouse failed to place the issue of “pink sheeting” into the broader context of SEIU’s attacks on our Union, made a few isolated incidents look like an institutional conspiracy, and even speculated that a painful part of the UFW’s history is somehow related to Unite Here. For this he offered little or no evidence and support. Mr. Greenhouse willfully omitted the views and opinions of current staff members whom he interviewed, despite the fact that he talked with an elected leader of UUHS for over an hour.
UUHS acknowledges that Unite Here, like any large organization, faces challenges. The role of our staff union is to ensure a check and balance system in Unite Here, and to critically address issues in a productive way. We condemn any invasion of our members’ privacy. However, readers should know that in October, an overwhelming majority of Unite Here staff chose to leave our former staff union, FOUR, and join UUHS. The reason being that FOUR, now the representative for Workers United staff, colluded with WU/SEIU by sensationalizing serious allegations to the press, and even intentionally ignored grievances by staff in a cynical effort to damage Unite Here. Failing to even acknowledge this aspect of the controversy, Mr. Greenhouse merely contributed to their efforts and produced a tabloid distortion of the truth.

As current staff, our experience with Unite Here is that it fosters our ability to think and critique, contribute intelligently, and creates space for us to challenge and discuss key decisions of the union. We are proud of its organizing culture. Organizers are committed to building deep and trusting relationships with workers, in which they relate as complete human beings; there is mutual recognition that both organizers and workers are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, care-takers of family, and members of our communities. No one is just a worker at a job site. It is this dedication that has allowed rank and file members to become leaders in our union and the broader movement for social justice, and has made Unite Here a strong and member-driven leader of the American labor movement.

UNION OF UNITE HERE STAFF
c/o Diana Boice
425 College Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Chuck Hendricks
Organizer
Midwest Representative

Feng Kung
Organizer
Western Representative

Patrick Volcin
Organizer
Southern Representative

Tamanna Rahman
Organizer
Northeast Representative

Caitlin Prendiville
Research Analyst
Northeast Representative

Diana Boice
Membership Coordinator
Northeast Representative

Jay Yerex
Organizer
Canadian Representative

Lauren Burke
Organizer
Southwest Representative

Gina Rodriguez
Western Representative

Calvin Miaw
Organizer
Local 2850 Representative