The hospitality workers’ union, UNITE HERE, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency, countering Republican Donald Trump’s promise to make restaurant and hotel workers’ tips tax-free.
Union president Gwen Mills accused Trump of seeking votes without genuine support for unions. She discussed this with the media before the union’s official endorsement.
The union plans to mobilise its members to knock on over 3.3 million doors for Harris in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Trump proposed the tax-free tips policy during a rally in Nevada on June 9. Both Democratic senators from Nevada, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, have supported this idea, indicating its potential appeal.
Trump promised hotel and tipped workers that they would benefit from tax-free tips if he were re-elected.
The Biden administration, however, argues that tipped workers would benefit more from a higher minimum wage. President Joe Biden, who stepped down from the ballot two weeks ago, has handed over his economic proposals to Harris, who has actively supported organised labour. She has also advocated for rules making it easier for workers to unionise.
Since taking over from Biden, Harris has quickly unified the Democratic coalition, securing support from labour unions. The AFL-CIO, which includes UNITE HERE, has endorsed Harris, following their previous support for Biden. The United Auto Workers also formally backed Harris on Wednesday.
The Harris campaign and its supporters believe the election’s outcome will depend on voter turnout, which is where UNITE HERE aims to assist the Democrats.
Rashad Eaton, a 43-year-old Philadelphia resident and UNITE HERE member, previously canvassed for Democrat John Fetterman during his successful 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign. Eaton, who works for Aramark at sporting events, hears from voters on various issues like gun violence and corporate greed. He plans to canvass for Harris, stating that “Trump is trying to destroy everything.”