With nearly 8,000 members, UNITE HERE Local 75 is strongest, largest representative of hospitality workers in the GTA

TORONTO, April 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNITE HERE Local 75 officially swore-in its newly elected leadership at a Gala Event last night attended by hundreds of local members and fellow labour leaders.

UNITE HERE Local 75 swears in new leadership at a gala event on April 24, 2019

On March 29, 2019, hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 75 elected a new diverse leadership committee, marking the local’s transition out of a 14-month trusteeship and conclusion of an unsuccessful raiding campaign by another union. UNITE HERE Local 75 experienced the highest voter turnout in its history and the new leaders were elected with a decisive 83 percent of the vote.

“Throughout the trusteeship, our members successfully defeated an attempt to raid our local, sending a strong message to both the labour movement and employers as we continued to secure some of the strongest collective agreements our sector has seen in the last two decades,” said Nuredin Bulle, President of UNITE HERE Local 75. “We have emerged from trusteeship stronger and more united than ever and look forward to continuing our work and expanding our organizing efforts under our new local leadership.”

The UNITE HERE Local 75 Executive Board now includes:

Nuredin Bulle, President
Valrie Lue, Vice President
Shelli Sareen, Secretary Treasurer
Abu Azam, Hilton Toronto Downtown, Trustee
Yosief Ogbasellasie, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Trustee
Rahman Alheisari, Doubletree By Hilton Downtown, Trustee
Yohannes Habte, Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown, Executive Board
Vemelyn Feliciano, St. Regis Hotel, Executive Board
Nigel Blair, Aramark York University, Executive Board
Mark Krekora, Strathcona Hotel, Executive Board
Medhin Ghebre, Chelsea Hotel, Executive Board
Maria Richards, Delta Toronto East, Executive Board
Marietta Alejandro, Holiday Inn International Airport, Executive Board
Lloyd Manning, Radisson Suite Toronto, Executive Board
Mahbubul Haque, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Executive Board
Leonora Mulholland, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Executive Board
Kiran Panikar, Hilton Toronto Downtown, Executive Board
Kayann Drummond, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Executive Board
Ingrid Moncriffe, Delta Toronto East, Executive Board
Ianka Stoyanova, Kimpton Saint George, Executive Board
Habtom Ogbamichael, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Executive Board
Gilbert Galvez, King Edward Hotel, Executive Board
Eulalia Marcos, Chelsea Hotel, Executive Board
Daisy Virgo, Hilton Toronto Downtown, Executive Board
Christine Smalling, Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, Executive Board
Josh Cuasay, One King West, Executive Board
Abdullah Idris, Chelsea Hotel, Executive Board
Feliz Serrano, Chelsea Hotel, Executive Board
Froilan De Guzman, Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel, Executive Board
Anna Dudek, Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, Executive Board
Brigida Ruiz, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Executive Board

“We are a Local of immigrants, women and people of colour and our new leadership, leaders who were elected by our membership, represents that. I’m proud to be part of a diverse team that truly reflects our membership and moving forward with a laser-sharp focus on continuing to fight for the best contracts for Toronto hospitality workers,” said Shelli Sareen, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 75.

UNITE HERE Local 75 represents nearly 8,000 hospitality workers, including workers at 43 hotels, across the GTA and is part of the strongest hospitality union in North America. UNITE HERE Local 75 celebrates its diversity as a union of immigrants, people of colour and women in the sector, leading the struggle for social justice in the local labour movement.

Media Contact:
Ellie Ade Kur
647.819.1447
eadekur@uniteherelocal75.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7355c844-5c58-4609-92f9-bda9deccc208