Rep. Grace Meng receives endorsement of hospitality and carpenters unions in re-election bid

Local 100 represents roughly 17,000 workers across New York City’s hotels, restaurants, airport terminals and food service operations.

Meng said the union has fought for decades for tens of thousands of New York workers, and it has helped many across the city achieve a better quality of life by major winning wage increases, stronger health care coverage and better working conditions that let members build stable lives for their families.

“Unite Here Local 100 has always been built around the simple and powerful idea that a hard day’s work should translate into a good life,” Meng said. “Working people should be able to pay their rent, take their kids to the doctor, and build something real for their family without fear of financial instability. That’s not too much to ask.”

Meng said Local 100’s mission is exactly what she carries to Washington every day. Not only is she proud to have its endorsement, she continued, but she said she is “even more proud” to keep standing shoulder to shoulder with the working families of Queens and in every corner of the city.

Unite Here’s presence in NYC is anchored by Local 100, a news release from Meng’s office noted, which represents hospitality workers across the five boroughs. 

Its membership reflects the diverse service economy of New York, the news release continued, which includes a majority of workers who are Latino, Black and immigrants. 

“Congresswoman Grace Meng has been an unwavering advocate for labor throughout her seven terms in the House of Representatives,” said Jose Maldonado, president of Local 100. “Serving as New York’s senior member of the Appropriations Committee, she has fought for legislation to fund accessible training programs for workers, strengthen labor protections, and fortify worker’s rights. We proudly endorse her for re-election.”

The NYCDCC, on the other hand, represents over 20,000 skilled union carpenters in NYC — spanning nine local unions — who build and maintain the city’s most essential structures including skyscrapers, schools, bridges, subways and hospitals. 

“The men and women of the District Council of Carpenters are the backbone of our city,” Meng emphasized. “Their hard work, solidarity, and commitment to lifting working families reflect the very best of what New York stands for. I’m proud to have their support, and I won’t stop fighting to make sure their voices are heard in Congress.”

NYCDCC also runs a training center in Manhattan’s West Village, where more than 1,600 registered apprentices are enrolled and training the next generation of New York’s tradespeople.

According to David Caraballoso, president of the NYCDCC, the council is proud to stand with Meng and help send her back to Congress..

“Our members build New York, and they deserve a representative who fights as hard for them in Washington as they do on the job site,” Caraballoso said. “Grace Meng has never stopped fighting for the men and women who build this city, and she delivers on jobs, wages, and protecting the rights of workers across the city and across the country.”

Meng’s office said the endorsements add to the momentum building behind her candidacy, joining unions like 1199 SEIU, DC 37, 32BJ, CWA District 1, and elected leaders like U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, and Councilwoman Linda Lee.