5 Major Battles UNITE HERE Local 25 Is Fighting For DC Workers In 2025

As of December 2025, UNITE HERE Local 25, the powerhouse union representing thousands of hospitality workers across the Washington D.C. metropolitan region, is at the forefront of several high-stakes labor battles, defining the future of service industry employment in the nation's capital. The union's aggressive, multi-front campaign is focused on securing higher wages, better benefits, and improved job security for hotel, restaurant, and casino workers, directly challenging major employers and setting new regional standards. The union's current focus is a dual effort: navigating the critical fallout from a major contract expiration that affected thousands of hotel workers and launching a massive, high-profile unionization drive targeting some of D.C.'s most famous entertainment venues. These actions underscore Local 25's commitment to expanding its influence and ensuring that the economic recovery benefits the frontline workers who power the city's tourism and hospitality sectors.

UNITE HERE Local 25 Leadership and Biography Profile

UNITE HERE Local 25 has been a foundational force in the Washington D.C. labor movement for over 75 years, tracing its roots back to Bartenders' Local 75. Today, the union represents a diverse membership of approximately 7,500 workers, including housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, food service workers, and stadium staff. Their leadership team is instrumental in coordinating city-wide contract negotiations, political advocacy, and organizing campaigns across the DC metro region.

• Paul Schwalb: Executive Secretary-Treasurer. Schwalb is the principal officer of Local 25, leading all major contract negotiations and political strategy. He previously served as the union's Chief of Staff and has been a driving force in the fight to defend Initiative 82 (I-82), the D.C. law raising the minimum wage for tipped workers.
• Samuel Epps: Political Director. Epps manages the union's legislative and political action efforts, which are crucial for advancing pro-worker policies in the D.C. Council.
• Mahnoor Imran: Organizer and Communications Specialist. Imran is a key figure in the on-the-ground organizing campaigns, particularly the recent, aggressive unionization drives targeting non-union hospitality employers.
• Jan Fillius-Carroll: Office Manager.
• Stephanie Steer-Jones: Recording Secretary.

The 2025 Contract Cliff: DC Hotel Workers' Fight for a "Life-Changing" Deal

The most critical and immediate battle for UNITE HERE Local 25 in 2025 revolved around the expiration of a major city-wide contract covering thousands of DC hotel workers. The previous contract, which set the standard for wages, benefits, and working conditions across numerous major hotel chains, expired on August 31st, 2025. This contract negotiation is widely viewed by the union as a fight for a "life-changing" contract, demanding significant improvements to address the rising cost of living in the Washington D.C. area and the intense physical demands of hospitality work. Key negotiation points include:

• Substantial Wage Increases: Pushing for hourly wage hikes that outpace inflation and allow workers to afford to live in the city they serve.
• Improved Healthcare and Retirement: Protecting and enhancing existing benefits to ensure long-term security for veteran employees.
• Workload and Safety Policies: Demands for better staffing ratios and stricter safety protocols, especially for housekeepers, to mitigate the risk of injury.

The pressure on hotel management has been immense, with workers voting to approve actions (often a strike authorization) to back their demands, demonstrating a readiness to walk out if a fair agreement is not reached. The outcome of this negotiation will directly impact the wages and labor rights of thousands of hotel employees and influence future contracts across the entire region.

Beyond Hotels: Local 25’s Aggressive 2025 Unionization Drives

While the hotel contract dominated headlines, UNITE HERE Local 25 has simultaneously launched major unionization drives in previously non-unionized sectors of D.C.'s hospitality landscape. These campaigns are part of a broader strategy to organize all service workers in the metro area, from casual dining to major entertainment venues.

The "It's My Union" Concert Venue Campaign

One of the most high-profile organizing efforts of 2025 is the "It's My Union" campaign, targeting workers at four major D.C. concert venues operated by I.M.P. (Independent Major Producers). The campaign involves over 300 employees—including bartenders, door staff, food vendors, and other hospitality staffers—at iconic venues:

• 9:30 Club
• Lincoln Theatre
• The Atlantis
• Merriweather Post Pavilion (Part of the larger I.M.P. network)

These workers are organizing with Local 25, alongside IATSE Local 22 and IATSE Local 868 (Theatrical Stage Employees), to negotiate for better pay, more consistent scheduling, and a voice in their workplace. The success of this drive, which has already seen I.M.P. reach an agreement with Local 25 on a process for union recognition, is a significant victory for labor in the entertainment industry.

Organizing Fine Dining: The Duck & the Peach

In another key effort, workers at the popular D.C. restaurant The Duck & the Peach have also moved to unionize with Local 25. This move signals the union's continued push into the city's booming fine dining and casual restaurant scene, challenging the notion that union representation is limited to large chain hotels or institutional food service. The organizing effort here highlights the desire of younger restaurant staff for better job security and a formal bargaining structure, even in smaller, high-end establishments.

Defending Tipped Wages: The Battle for Initiative 82 (I-82)

UNITE HERE Local 25 remains a fierce advocate for the economic rights of tipped workers in Washington D.C., a fight centered on defending Initiative 82 (I-82). This D.C. law mandates the gradual elimination of the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees, ensuring they are paid the full D.C. minimum wage before tips. Union leadership, including Executive Secretary-Treasurer Paul Schwalb, has actively fought against efforts by business lobbies and certain D.C. Council members to pause or reverse the scheduled wage increase. Local 25 argues that I-82 is not the cause of economic problems but rather a vital measure to provide stability and a living wage for thousands of restaurant and service industry workers who rely on tips. The union's successful political advocacy ensures that the full minimum wage for tipped workers remains on track, a major win for labor and a key part of their broader mission to uplift all hospitality workers.

The Future of Labor in the Capital: A UNITE HERE Local 25 Outlook

The year 2025 has cemented UNITE HERE Local 25’s reputation as the most active and successful hospitality union in the Mid-Atlantic region. By simultaneously tackling a massive city-wide contract negotiation, launching major unionization drives at high-profile venues like the 9:30 Club and Lincoln Theatre, and defending critical legislation like Initiative 82, Local 25 is not just reacting to events—it is proactively reshaping the economic landscape of Washington D.C. hospitality. The union’s focus on organizing the unorganized, from The Duck & the Peach restaurant staff to casino workers and hotel housekeepers, ensures that the fight for rights, respect, and progress for the working class remains a central theme in the nation's capital.