About Our Union

What makes Restaurant Workers United different?

We are the union run by and for restaurant, bar, and cafe workers in America. We organize worker-to-worker and run our union democratically from top to bottom. We know that the only way we can organize our industry of more than 11 million workers is by building a movement that empowers us as workers to fight our own battles and make our own decisions. 

How do we make decisions?

As a democratic union, we make decisions by discussing our options together and abiding by the majority’s vote. Decisions that affect the workers in each restaurant are up to them, like deciding how much of a raise should be negotiated for or how tip shares should be arranged. Decisions that affect our entire union, like who our officers are or how we amend our Constitution, are up to the membership as a whole.

What are my rights as a member?

Every RWU member has the rights guaranteed to union members under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which include freedom of speech and assembly, equal rights to participate in union activity, and a voice in setting dues.

As a democratic, worker-led union, we go well beyond these traditional rights. In RWU, all officers and shop stewards are directly elected by members. The members in each restaurant have the right to decide which changes they want to see at work, elect worker representatives to bargain with management, approve or reject proposed contracts, and authorize workplace actions like protests or strikes. All members are entitled to understand how the union is being run, and receive a monthly report on our current finances and expenses. Finally, members may directly recall officers and amend the Constitution by referendum.

The point of firmly establishing these rights in our Constitution is to ensure that our union remains transparent, democratic, and member-led.

Where can I read our Constitution?

You can read our entire Constitution here.

Who are our leaders and what are their responsibilities?

Every member who takes an active role in their restaurant is a leader in our union. We elect officers and shop stewards to serve the membership and provide a reliable structure that we can depend on. Shop stewards serve as leaders in each restaurant to support workers, settle grievances with management, and organize any necessary actions. Officers on the Executive Board serve as leaders for our union as a whole, coordinate and manage its affairs, and represent us to the public. Our current elected officers are: