WASHINGTON (AP) — The hospitality workers’ union UNITE HERE has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, responding to Republican Donald Trump‘s attempt to entice restaurant and hotel staff by promising to make their tips tax-free.
Gwen Mills, the union’s president, said Trump was merely playing a “game” to get votes, while Harris has credibility because she has supported unions. She discussed the move with The Associated Press before the union announced an endorsement.
The pledge means the union is committing to having its members knock on more than 3.3 million doors for Harris in states including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona and North Carolina.
Trump, the former president, proposed excluding tips from federal income taxes during a June 9 rally in Nevada. Both of Nevada’s Democratic senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Mastohave supported Trump’s idea, a sign of its potential popularity.
“To the hotel workers and the people who get tips, you’re going to be very happy because when I get into office, we’re not going to tax tips from people who give tips,” Trump said at the event.
The Biden administration has countered that tipped workers would be better off with a higher minimum wage. Joe Biden About two weeks ago, Harris, whose vice presidential portfolio includes organized labor, came out of the vote and embraced many of his existing economic proposals. In speeches, she has also pushed for rules to make it easier for workers to unionize.
After replacing Biden, Harris quickly consolidated a potentially fractured Democratic coalition, including rallying support from labor unions. The AFL-CIO, which counts UNITE HERE as a member, endorsed Harris after she endorsed Biden. The United Auto Workers formally endorsed the vice president on Wednesday.
Harris’ campaign and her allies have previously said the outcome of the election will depend on which side can generate the largest turnout. UNITE HERE believes it can help Democrats on that front.
Rashad Eaton, 43, was a first-time candidate in Democrat John Fetterman’s successful campaign for a Pennsylvania Senate seat in the 2022 election. Eaton, a Philadelphia resident and member of UNITE HERE, works for food retailer Aramark at basketball, hockey and soccer games.
He said he hears from voters on a range of issues, including gun violence and corporate greed, but that he will campaign for Harris because “Trump is trying to destroy everything.”
