News

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...

HTC Joins Mayor Adams to Advocate for Mayoral Control of NYC Schools

May 23, 2022 3:13 PM

On May 9th, HTC joined Mayor Eric Adams on the steps of City Hall to urge state lawmakers to extend mayoral control of New York City public schools. Read more...

Hotel Cleaning Act Passes in D.C. With Help From Local 25

May 23, 2022 11:26 AM

On April 1st, the City Council of Washington, D.C. passed the “Hotel Enhanced Cleaning and Notice of Service Disruption Emergency Act of 2022,” which established new hotel cleaning regulations in the District for the first time in 65 years. Read more...

Democratic Party Taking Action to Ban Its Consultants From Union-Busting

May 23, 2022 11:21 AM

The Democratic Party is taking steps to ban its consulting partners from engaging in anti-union activity. This happened following backlash to the illegal involvement of consulting firm, Global Strategy Group (GSG) in the fight against workers unionizing at Amazon, Inc. Read more...

HTC Congratulates Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis on Re-Election

May 23, 2022 11:15 AM

It was real stay-at-home weather in Bayonne, New Jersey on Saturday, May 7th. But the rain and the cold didn’t stop HTC members from taking to the streets to get out the vote for Mayor Jimmy Davis’ re-election. Read more...

HTC Members Show Up for Ras Baraka’s Re-Election as Mayor of Newark

May 23, 2022 10:35 AM

After many weeks of canvassing, HTC members can see the results of their volunteer work with the re-election of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Ahead of the election, HTC hit the streets and knocked on thousands of doors in the run up to the election, knowing we could trust Baraka to continue giving union members a fair shake for the next four years. Read more...

32BJ Members Secure New Contract In Big Win For Labor

May 11, 2022 4:47 PM

On Tuesday, April 19th—the day before their existing contract was set to expire—members and supporters of 32BJ gathered for a final press conference after many long weeks of fighting for a new, fair agreement. “Brothers and sisters,” announced the president of the building workers union, “we’ve got a deal!” Read more...

New York Attorney General and Mayor Eric Adams Take Down Slumlords Running Illegal Hotel

April 19, 2022 12:14 PM

On February 23rd, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Mayor Eric Adams took down a pair of Brooklyn-based slumlords who ran an unlawful short-term rental operation and illegally evicted tenants during the state’s eviction moratorium in 2020. The city reached a settlement of $2.25 million, requiring the slumlords to pay $250,000 in fines and turn over one of their Brooklyn properties, which will be converted into affordable housing. Read more...

HTC President Rich Maroko appointed to NYC Covid-19 recovery task force

March 23, 2022 1:49 PM

In an effort to speed up New York City’s economic and health recovery, Mayor Adams launched the COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force. The commission will advise the Adams’ administration on long-term health care and health equity policies. Read more...

HTC Rallies for Governor Hochul at the New York State Democratic Convention

March 23, 2022 12:42 PM

On February 17th, a delegation of over 100 HTC members attended the New York State Democratic Convention at the invitation of Governor Kathy Hochul. The convention, held at the Sheraton Times Square, is where the state Democratic Party nominates candidates for statewide elected positions such as governor, attorney general, comptroller, and lieutenant governor. Read more...

HTC Marches In Solidarity with CUNY and SUNY For Free, Accessible Education in the State of New York!

On Sunday, March 6, HTC members marched from Brooklyn Borough Hall to Foley Square in Manhattan in solidarity with the Professional Staff Congress (PSC- CUNY) that represents 30,000 staff in the City University of New York. For over four decades, the PSC has been committed to improving the quality and accessibility of education within CUNY and has strived towards better wages and benefits for the staff. This past Sunday, we marched for free higher education and to call for more funding for CUNY and SUNY universities, funding that will go towards their academic departments and hiring more full-time faculty. Read more...