Unite Here! Local 17

Unite Here! Local 17 We are Minnesota's Hospitality Union! H.E.R.E., the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union, was formed in 1891 and merged with UNITE in 2004.

Local 17 is a branch of UNITE HERE, an International labor union that combines industrial and textile workers (the former UNITE union) and hospitality workers (the former HERE union). We have over 500,000 members in the United States and are working non-stop to organize more. In the Twin Cities area, Local 17 represents roughly 6,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, bars, caterers, cafeterias, spor

ts complexes, MSP airport, breweries, distilleries and other hospitality-related businesses. Our members are as diverse as Minnesota itself. Approximately 70% of Local 17’s members are immigrants and the majority of members are women. The members of Local 17 speak more than 17 languages and dialects We’re your parents, your neighbors, your friends and your spouses as well as the people who cook meals in restaurants, make beds in hotels, mix drinks in bars and sell hot dogs at ball games. Our members don’t just serve the community, they are the community.

CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS▪️KNOW YOUR RIGHTSConsejos para responder a las redadas de deportación del ICE▪️Tips for responding ...
02/20/2025

CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS▪️KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Consejos para responder a las redadas de deportación del ICE▪️Tips for responding to ICE deportation raids

🚫Derecho a permanecer en silencio▪️Right to Remain Silent
🚓Derecho a solicitar una orden de detencion▪️Right to Ask For An Arrest Warrant
☎️Derecho a hablar con un abogado ▪️Right To Speak With A Lawyer
✍️Derecho a no firmar nada▪️Right Not to Sign Anything
📢Informe la redada▪️Report The Raid

www.unitehere.org/campaign/immigration

FIRST AVE WORKERS HAVE OUR CONTRACT! 🩶Workers across all seven Twin Cities venues voted unanimously this weekend to appr...
02/11/2025

FIRST AVE WORKERS HAVE OUR CONTRACT! 🩶

Workers across all seven Twin Cities venues voted unanimously this weekend to approve a groundbreaking union contract with big raises, longevity pay that respects their years of hard work; improved scheduling, training and safety policies; protections for LGBT+ workers; and more.

“I’m overwhelmed and very grateful we have our contract,” said Heidi Thompson, who has worked at First Avenue for 25 years. “The changes to scheduling - having it come out more than a few days in advance - mean I’ll have an easier time making plans with my family and friends. This will make such a difference for me and all the staff that come after.”

“I’ve watched a lot of my best friends leave the club because the job wasn’t sustainable or they didn’t feel respected, but this contract makes a lot of steps to change that. I’ve been pinching money at the end of the month for as long as I can remember, and the raises will make things significantly easier for me. I am thankful that First Avenue was willing to work with us to make the clubs better, and I’m hopeful that our efforts here can continue to spread outwards. I’m so proud of the incredibly tough and powerful organizing my coworkers and I have all done together," said Kyle Tappe, event staff at First Avenue for three years.

Fair State workers Zach & Darren out flyering in the cold to push for severance for upcoming layoffs! Support these work...
02/08/2025

Fair State workers Zach & Darren out flyering in the cold to push for severance for upcoming layoffs! Support these workers by reaching out to and telling them to do the right thing!!

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront and DoubleTree St Paul Downtown Cooks, Dishwashers and Housekeepers delegated the...
02/07/2025

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront and DoubleTree St Paul Downtown Cooks, Dishwashers and Housekeepers delegated their manager to deliver a grievance for several violations of work loads for Housekeepers!

Solidarity!!

Café Cerés baristas have been in bargaining since October, and we’ve already made progress we’re proud of on safety and ...
12/12/2024

Café Cerés baristas have been in bargaining since October, and we’ve already made progress we’re proud of on safety and first aid, translation and interpretation, protections for gender expression, job and discipline protections, and more.

We’ll keep pushing to get a contract with the scheduling, pay and benefits we need!

Congratulations to DNC workers at the airport for ratifying their new contract with significant wage increases, entry in...
12/10/2024

Congratulations to DNC workers at the airport for ratifying their new contract with significant wage increases, entry into a pension plan, paid parental leave, greatly reduced healthcare costs, increased vacation and personal days, and more!!

After taking a strike vote in August, DNC workers were prepared to go on strike in Minneapolis - as well as in multiple other cities across the country - before reaching a tentative agreement just days before the start of the holiday travel season.

When we fight, we win!!

The cold won’t stop us and neither will the hotel bosses. Marquette workers voted by an overwhelming 91% to authorize a ...
12/05/2024

The cold won’t stop us and neither will the hotel bosses. Marquette workers voted by an overwhelming 91% to authorize a ULP strike. One Union, One Standard!

We Brought Max Back!! When we stand together, we win.
11/22/2024

We Brought Max Back!! When we stand together, we win.

11/21/2024

Cold, Snow and Bad Bosses won't stop us! Marquette Workers held a wake-up call picket to let everyone know: NO CONTRACT NO SLEEP!!

DNC workers are ready to strike for a pension, reduced health care cost and raises to make their lives better!
11/20/2024

DNC workers are ready to strike for a pension, reduced health care cost and raises to make their lives better!

Indeed Brewing workers are STILL fighting for a fair contract! Come out Monday Evening to support them and PACK the bar....
11/16/2024

Indeed Brewing workers are STILL fighting for a fair contract! Come out Monday Evening to support them and PACK the bar. Let management know the community is with the workers!

MARQUETTE WORKERS ARE STANDING UP Last week they marched on the boss to deliver a petition demanding that they receive t...
11/11/2024

MARQUETTE WORKERS ARE STANDING UP
Last week they marched on the boss to deliver a petition demanding that they receive the same historic wage increase that the Lofton Workers have won!

One Union, One Standard!

Lofton workers have won a new contract that includes historic wage increases!!!The contract expired on May 1st, 2024 and...
11/01/2024

Lofton workers have won a new contract that includes historic wage increases!!!

The contract expired on May 1st, 2024 and the number 1 issue was wage increases coming out of COVID. The win didn’t come easy, it took months of delegations to management, actions at the negotiating table, picket marches outside of the hotel, 7am wake-up calls, flyering guests and a vote 93% “Yes” vote to strike.

All power to the the workers who have set a new standard!

First Ave union activist Max was fired over a Red Bull. Tag First Avenue & 7th St Entry and tell them to Bring Back Max!
11/01/2024

First Ave union activist Max was fired over a Red Bull. Tag First Avenue & 7th St Entry and tell them to Bring Back Max!

“First Ave is so cheap it’s scary. For the company to see everything I put in night after night, year after year, and sa...
10/28/2024

“First Ave is so cheap it’s scary. For the company to see everything I put in night after night, year after year, and say I’m only worth less than a dollar above minimum wage? We need them to do better, and we know they can.” - Tayah Holte, First Ave worker

First Avenue workers need a contract with higher wages. We’re calling on the company to settle a contract with fair pay NOW!

First Ave is so cheap it's scary. Come out on 10/27 to stand with workers demanding a fair contract with fair pay NOW.
10/23/2024

First Ave is so cheap it's scary. Come out on 10/27 to stand with workers demanding a fair contract with fair pay NOW.

Carlee P, she/theyRoles: box office supervisor/box office, coat check, door, event staff3 years at First Ave clubsWhy is...
10/22/2024

Carlee P, she/they
Roles: box office supervisor/box office, coat check, door, event staff
3 years at First Ave clubs

Why is the union and winning our contract important to you?
For workers rights, protections and fair treatment of all employees at any level. I took this job not knowing the community it would bring into my life and that has been so special to me. Live music is one of the great third spaces we have left in this world, and we as the event staff do our absolute best to create these spaces every night. We want to continue to create a safe and inclusive environment for those that walk through the doors every night. To be able to do that, we need to have proper training on handling complex problems. I would like this contract to allow us workers to be more in the know and to have a fair say on what goes on behind the scenes.

Do you have a favorite part from this process? What have you learned, if anything?
I have really enjoyed seeing our staff speak up for what they need from their workplace. Whether they have been with the clubs for years or for a short time, it is great to see those using their voices for the greater good. I trust the people I work with and love all the ideas flowing!

How has being in a union affected your outlook?
I didn’t know much about unionizing in the workplace before First Avenue. I think this has not only set a precedent for other music venues around Minnesota but around the United States. Unions are important because the work that we are doing is important.

Address

312 Central Avenue SE, Ste 444
Minneapolis, MN
55414

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Videos

Cold, Snow and Bad Bosses won't stop us! Marquette Workers held a wake-up call picket to let everyone know: NO CONTRACT NO SLEEP!!

Lofton hotel workers are saying it loud and clear: we need a fair contract with no takebacks! No contract, no sleep! See you on the picket line TOMORROW at 11:30 am.

If we don't get no contract, you don't get no peace. Thank you, IAM, for standing with hotel workers!
If we don't get no contract, you don't get no peace. Thank you, IAM, for standing with hotel workers!

Thank you to our Machinists Union siblings for standing with Lofton hotel workers fighting for a fair contract!

"Before our election, Ann Kim and Vestalia said we were a family. And after we voted to unionize Ann Kim and Vestalia said, 'I respect the election results and look forward to working with the team as we move into the future.' Now they have taken their ball and gone home before looking at any of our proposals. But the community we have built is still here, picking up the pieces." We take care of each other! While Kim’s workers fight for the compensation and rights they deserve, please consider donating to their relief fund. Link in bio.

Support Kim's Workers
Support Kim's Workers

Kim’s sudden and unilateral closure has left workers like Alice feeling angry and disrespected, not knowing where their next paycheck will come from. "We came forward with a closure proposal asking for two weeks' pay, PTO payout, and priority hiring within the other restaurants of Vestalia. They rejected our demands and came back with compensation that doesn’t even guarantee full PTO payout. It feels like a slap in the face and disrespectful to the dedicated and skilled workers that Ann Kim has employed. Why did the company close Kim's before we could even have our first bargaining meeting? Why won't she commit to basic decency for the people that she calls family'?" "We're committed and talented workers who are already on the payroll. If the closure isn't about busting the union or punishing union supporters, there's no excuse to not hire us at her three other restaurants or put us on a priority hiring list for the future.” While Kim’s workers fight for the compensation and rights they deserve, please consider donating to their relief fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-unjustly-laid-off-staff-justice-for-the-restaurant

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Who Are We?

Local 17 is a branch of UNITE HERE, an International labor union that combines industrial and textile workers (the former UNITE union) and hospitality workers (the former HERE union). H.E.R.E., the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union, was formed in 1891 and merged with UNITE in 2004. We have over 270,000 members in the United States and are working non-stop to organize more. In the Twin Cities area, Local 17 represents roughly 6,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, bars, caterers, cafeterias, sports complexes, the airport, and other hospitality-related businesses. Our members are as diverse as Minnesota itself. Approximately 70% of Local 17’s members are immigrants and the majority of members are women. The members of Local 17 speak more than 17 languages and dialects We’re your parents, your neighbors, your friends and your spouses as well as the people who cook meals in restaurants, make beds in hotels, mix drinks in bars and sell hot dogs at ball games. Our members don’t just serve the community, they are the community.