United Front By Harold Meyerson, The American Prospect
Two of the country's most innovative and effective unions are joining together, making them 440,000 members strong.
They are, by conservative estimate, the two most goddamn tenacious unions in the United States. The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE), which Thursday announced their intention to merge, are each known for two of the most remarkable long-term campaigns in American labor history.
Labor Unions UNITE and HERE to Merge Source: UNITE; HERE
Presidents Raynor and Wilhelm are known as dynamic and innovative labor leaders. Along with the presidents of the carpenters, laborers and service employee 's unions, they have formed the New Unity Partnership, which has recommended many changes to the structure of unions, including the need to join together in larger, more powerful organizations.