News

HTC Members Head to Philly to Help Win High-Stakes Elections

Hotel Voice, Fall 2022

HTC members are back out on the front lines in a swing state, knocking on doors to help elect pro-union Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania. On October 17th, 2022, thirteen HTC members, drove down to Philadelphia to join over 300 members of the international union UNITE HERE in canvassing for Senate candidate John Fetterman and Gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro. Read more...

Member Q&A: Veronica Senghore, 1 Brooklyn Bridge

Hotel Voice, Fall 2022

Veronica Senghore, a member of our Union for 22 years, joined H.E.A.T. this summer to knock on doors for State Senator Gustavo Rivera, who narrowly won a very tough primary. Veronica sat down for an interview with the Hotel Voice to discuss her very first canvassing experience. Read more...

Schedule Your Next Interview Using Our Website!

Hotel Voice, Fall 2022

Looking for work? Members can now schedule interviews for substitute job openings at union hotels and casinos using the Union’s website. Visit hotelworkers.org/hire to register with the Union’s Hiring Enforcement Office (HEO), schedule or cancel an interview, and access additional resources. Read more...

HTC VOTES: Our Endorsements in NY's 2022 General Election

On November 8th, New Yorkers will elect the next State Assembly, Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General. These elected officials will be in charge of New York's continued economic recovery from COVID-19. Read more...

Benefits Update: In-Person Workers’ Compensation and Mortgage Planning Help Sessions Resume!

October 17, 2022 11:32 AM

Workers’ Compensation and Mortgage / Home Equity Line of Credit help sessions are back! Read more...

A Special Report from HTC President Rich Maroko

Hotel Voice, Fall 2022

For several months, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been bussing migrants to New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago by the thousands. The rapid and uncoordinated arrival of so many people has caused chaos at bus terminals, put a strain on public services, and added stress to those arriving to our country already scared, exhausted, and in desperate need of help. Read more...

Celebrating Union Power! Photos from Our 2022 Labor Day Parades

Hotel Voice, Fall 2022

Typically, when HTC members devote their non-working hours to Union activity, it’s to build power by knocking on doors for our friends in politics or by phone banking to support a good cause. But last weekend, HTC members turned out by the hundreds simply to celebrate!

On September 9th and 10th, HTC participated in both New Jersey’s and New York City’s annual Labor Day Parades, marching and chanting alongside family and friends. Read more...

Dues Increase, Previously Postponed, Going into Effect Sept. 1

August 25, 2022 2:58 PM

In July 2014, our membership voted by 89.9% to increase dues every September. Last year, in recognition of the hardships facing many members due to the pandemic, the Union’s Executive Board postponed the increase scheduled for 2021 until this September. Now that members are beginning to get back on their feet, the September 2021 and 2022 increases will be going into effect. Read more...

NYC Takes On Illegal Hotel Scheme

August 1, 2022 4:07 PM

New York City is suing to shut down a $2 million illegal hotel operation plaguing the East Side. The City has accused Real Estate Broker Arron Latimer and several co-defendants of operating illegal hotels via Airbnb in six residential buildings, including all eight residential apartments at 344 East 51st Street. By using fake host profiles to skirt City Law, Latimer is accused of renting out the apartments to 6,500 guests and generating $2 million over the last four years. Read more...

Union Secures Protections for Hotel, Casino, Club Workers in the Wake of Supreme Court’s Ruling on NY Gun Law

July 5, 2022 4:37 PM

For over 100 years, New York State had strict gun safety laws that severely limited the number of individuals who are able to carry firearms outside of their homes. This changed on June 23rd, when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated key parts of the State’s law, opening the door for virtually anyone to now carry a firearm outside of their home in New York and New Jersey.

Immediately following the Court’s decision, our Union began working with elected officials and representatives in the hotel and gaming industries to do everything possible to protect our members while at work. On July 1st, the Union both secured protections in New York State law and came to a new agreement with the Hotel Association of New York City addressing firearm safety. Read more... 

New York’s Plan to Convert Bad Hotels into Affordable Housing

July 5, 2022 9:50 AM

Over the last year, our allies in the New York State government have passed a series of new laws aimed at addressing two major problems afflicting our communities: the desperate need for affordable housing and out-of-control hotel development.

The legislation has had the full support of our Union as it protects good union jobs, addresses the problems caused by decades of overdevelopment, and helps tackle the City’s housing crisis. Read more...

20 Years and Still Going Strong – the Union’s Writing Contest of 2022 Offers Cash Prizes to High School Students

June 28, 2022 9:49 AM

Calling all budding writers and journalists! The Union is proud to announce the commencement of the 20th Anniversary of the annual Writing Contest. The rules of the contest have remained unchanged from previous years. Entries can be submitted by children and eligible dependents of Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and/or Local 6 members, who are high school students in grades 10, 11 or 12. All entries must be submitted by Friday, August 19, 2022. Read more...

HTC VOTES: Our Endorsements in NY's 2022 Primary

This year, New Yorkers will elect the next State Assembly, Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, and Attorney General. These elected officials will be in charge of New York's continued economic recovery from COVID-19. Many of these races are extremely competitive and it is critical that we elect those individuals who will protect workers and prioritize fixing the problems faced by everyday New Yorkers in the months and years ahead. Read more...

HTC VOTES: Letitia James for New York Attorney General!

June 23, 2022 5:29 PM

Our Union supports New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ campaign for re-election in 2022. Since her election in 2018, Attorney General James has made it clear that her priority is fighting for working people and protecting middle class New Yorkers from the greed of big business and special interests groups. Read more...

HTC VOTES: Tom DiNapoli for New York State Comptroller

June 23, 2022 5:27 PM

Our Union is proud to endorse Tom DiNapoli for re-election as New York State Comptroller. The State’s Comptroller is responsible for making sure the State uses taxpayer money effectively, managing New York State’s Public Pension Fund for over 1 million public employees and retirees, and reporting on the State’s finances. Read more...

HTC Endorses Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for Re-Election

June 23, 2022 5:08 PM

Our Union is proud to endorse New York Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for re-election in 2022.

“Over the last two years, Senator Schumer has been an unwavering friend to our Union’s 40,000 members,” remarked HTC President Rich Maroko. “Not only has he been willing to fight for us when we needed him the most, but he has proven that he has the skills to win big and bold improvements for America’s working class.” Read more...

Union Drives Are On the Rise!

June 13, 2022 11:06 AM

What do Apple, Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Target and REI all have in common? Aside from being some of the biggest and best-known brands in the country, workers at each of these companies have all recently moved to organize their shops! Read more...

HTC Congratulates Rob Menendez On His Democratic Primary Victory for New Jersey Congress

June 8, 2022 9:49 AM

On Tuesday, June 7th, Rob Menendez Jr. won the Democratic Primary for New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District in a landslide victory, taking more than 83% of the vote. Just a few days prior to the election, HTC members mobilized to support Menendez in Jersey City and get out the vote as part of a final push for his campaign. Read more...

HTC Marches to Support Women’s Reproductive Rights

June 6, 2022 4:27 PM

On Saturday, May 14th, HTC members took to the streets of Brooklyn alongside thousands of protestors to support women’s reproductive rights. Gathering under the banner of “Bans Off Our Bodies,” the group marched across the Brooklyn Bridge and into Foley Square in order to protest against overturning Roe v. Wade. Read more...

HTC Makes a Difference for Middlesex County Democrats

May 30, 2022 9:40 AM

On Saturday, May 28th, HTC members laced up their walking shoes to canvass for the primary election of a slate of candidates endorsed by Middlesex County Democrats. The Middlesex County Democrats have been allies to HTC in New Jersey, and our members were more than happy to mobilize for their endorsed candidates on the ticket from the top-down. Read more...