Labor Union

Unite Here Local 25

Website:

www.dchotelworkers.org

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

52-1014965

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2016):

Revenue: $5,468,430
Expenses: $5,026,138
Assets: $9,362,500

Formation:

1975

Executive Secretary-Treasurer:

John Boardman

Compensation:

Gross Salary: $107,000

Total Disbursements: $138,497 1

References

  1. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 11 
President:

Linda Martin

Compensation:

Gross Salary: $96,000

Total Disbursements: $97,038 1

References

  1. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 11
Affiliated With:

Unite Here

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Unite Here Local 25 is a local labor union affiliated with Unite Here principally representing hospitality (especially hotel) employees in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The local donates nearly exclusively to Democratic Party candidates, has campaigned for higher regulations on businesses such as Airbnb, and has donated to other left-of-center organizations which support liberal expansionist stances on immigration and labor union approaches toward economic issues.

Background

Unite Here Local 25 was founded in 1975 as the result of the merger of five hospitality sector unions in Greater Metropolitan Washington, D.C. 1 As of its 2018 Department of Labor filing, the union has 5,666 members. 2

For 2018, the union reported collecting $5,871,537 in receipts, with $5,657,305 coming from member dues and agency fees. 3

Political Activities

Aside from the traditional union activities related to workplace bargaining and member benefits, the local is also involved in electoral politics. According to data compiled by the National Institute for Money in State Politics, during the 2018 election cycle, the union’s political committees mad all of their over $36,000 in campaign contributions to Democrats. This includes $6,000 donated to the California State Senate campaign of Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), the general vice president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity of Local 25’s parent union, Unite Here. 4 All other donations went to races in Maryland. 5

The union is a vocal supporter of regulating Airbnb and other short-term rental sites by the District of Columbia government; in 2017 and 2018, the union spent $157,000 campaigning for the adoption of a law that will limit the ability of homeowners to engage in short-term rentals. 6 7 8

The union has donated money to the Working Families Organization, a nonprofit associated with the left-wing political faction Working Families Party that takes a progressive stance on a host of issues ranging from climate change to labor policy. 9 10 It also frames itself in terms of being part of the “resistance” to the Trump administration. 11

The local has also donated to Casa in Action, a Maryland-based liberal immigration activist group that advocates for illegal immigrants and discourages local police cooperation with ICE. 12 13

Leadership

John Boardman is the executive secretary-treasurer. He has been involved with the local since at least 1978 and has been the union’s executive since 1996. 14

Linda Martin has been president since 2009. Her work in the 1990’s in the D.C.-area service industry eventually led to her involvement with the union as a shop steward, business agent, and eventually president. 15

References

  1. “History.” Accessed April 9, 2019. http://dchotelworkers.org/about/history.
  2. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 13 
  3. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Statement B
  4. Rachel, Gumpert. “BREAKING: UNITE HERE International Vice President Maria Elena Durazo Wins Primary Election for One of Largest California Senate Seats with Highest Victory Margin Ever in District.” Accessed April 11, 2019. https://unitehere.org/press-releases/breaking-unite-here-international-vice-president-maria-elena-durazo-wins-primary-election-for-one-of-largest-california-senate-seats-with-highest-victory-margin-ever-in-district/.
  5. National Institute on Money in State Politics. “UNITE HERE! LOCAL 25” FollowTheMoney.org. Accessed 4/11/19. https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=1336777&fbclid=IwAR1XLyp_QNPkdPNCU30iMryyUbuHSagp_PCKPRAfuxbyQVddtSnLsoxUxZ4
  6. DePillis, Lydia. “Hotel Workers in D.C. Propose Some of the Strictest Airbnb Regulations in the Country.” The Washington Post, September 23, 2015.
  7. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2017, Schedule 18 
  8. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 16 
  9. Unite Here Local 25 (Labor Department File Number 506-434), OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 17 
  10. “Issues.” Accessed April 12, 2019. https://workingfamilies.org/issues/.
  11. “Resisting the Trump Agenda,” June 19, 2017. https://workingfamilies.org/2017/07/resisting-trump-agenda/.
  12. Unite Here Local, OLMS (Form LM 2), 2018, Schedule 17 
  13. “About Us.” Accessed April 12, 2019. https://www.casainaction.org/about-us.
  14. “Union Officers.” Accessed April 9, 2019. http://www.dchotelworkers.org/about/union-officers.
  15. “Union Officers.” Accessed April 9, 2019. http://www.dchotelworkers.org/about/union-officers.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1998

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2016 Dec Form 990 $5,468,430 $5,026,138 $9,362,500 $289,238 N $5,410,111 $0 $58,319 $639,159
    2015 Dec Form 990 $5,155,528 $4,604,464 $8,935,297 $304,327 N $5,152,417 $0 $3,111 $611,322 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $4,715,635 $4,671,258 $8,479,486 $399,580 N $4,712,524 $0 $3,111 $492,380 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $4,736,563 $4,389,339 $8,449,971 $414,442 N $4,673,501 $0 $63,062 $510,595 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $4,164,729 $4,723,833 $8,367,399 $679,094 N $3,822,247 $0 $170,142 $366,750 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $6,935,062 $5,071,980 $8,778,436 $531,027 N $4,926,188 $0 $8,874 $210,068 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Unite Here Local 25

    901 K ST NW STE 200
    WASHINGTON, DC 20001-4223