Democratic candidates in key battleground states benefited from a massive ground game by UNITE HERE, the hotel and hospitality workers union, which knocked 2.7 million doors in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia (where it’s still going for the Senate runoff). But in Philadelphia, the canvassers didn’t just talk to people about the elections—they offered opportunities to train for union jobs.
“Members of the Unite Here Philadelphia campaign passed along information about the labor union’s hospitality worker training program—which offers the guarantee of placement in a union job—before even discussing the election with potential voters,” Rebecca Rainey reported at Bloomberg Law. “Since March, they have placed 99 workers in union jobs as part of the effort in Philadelphia, according to the union.”
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That’s a way not only to let people know that you’re there with their best interests in mind, it builds deeper connections in the neighborhoods the union is canvassing. In 2024, the UNITE HERE canvassers are that much more likely to include people’s own neighbors.
“For example, one class was placed at the Wells Fargo Arena! So next time you're at a Sixers or Flyers game, say hi to a concession worker that might have been a new recruit through UNITE HERE's canvassing effort for Fetterman/Shapiro in Philly,” Diana Hussein, a communications staffer for the union, tweeted.
Now the race is on to hit doors in Georgia, where the union has said it is “building off our general election efforts there to bring the full force of our canvassing program.”
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