SILVER SPRING, Maryland – Union, immigration and religious leaders honored D. Taylor, president of the UNITE HERE labor union, for his commitment to immigrant workers at a reception on March 23 at the Friars Club in New York.
The fundraising event benefits the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., known as CLINIC.
“D Taylor represents tens of thousands of immigrant and first generation American hotel and hospitality workers among UNITE HERE’s 250,000 members in the U.S. and Canada,” said event host Vincent Pitta, of the New York law firm Pitta LLP. “His commitment, and that of his UNITE HERE colleagues, to better the wages, hours and working conditions of those immigrant workers, and his personal and his union’s generosity, goes hand in hand with CLINIC’s critically important mission and its critically important place in our society, especially so at this time in our country’s history. We salute our fellow CLINIC board member and congratulate him on the recognition he so justly deserves.”
In a statement of appreciation for the recognition, Mr. Taylor made note of the joint work of his organization and CLINIC.
“CLINIC is an amazing organization that has provided extraordinary service for thousands of immigrant and refugee families since its founding by Catholic bishops decades ago,” he said. “From helping immigrants detained at the borders to empowering workers to become citizens, UNITE HERE and CLINIC have proudly joined hands to help those in need and build a more just society. I am humbled and honored to be recognized by an organization that has done so much good work for so many people, and I look forward to partnering with CLINIC in the years ahead.”
Jeanne Atkinson, executive director of CLINIC, said the event is a welcomed cause for celebration, particularly with one CLINIC board member, Mr. Pitta, hosting this opportunity to recognize the work of another, Mr. Taylor.
“This is a wonderful time to acknowledge and celebrate the great work UNITE HERE and D. Taylor have long done on behalf of immigrant workers,” Ms. Atkinson said. “We are extremely grateful for the chance to thank Mr. Taylor for his commitment protecting immigrants from all walks of life.”
“In the summer of 2014, D called wanting to know what CLINIC was doing about large numbers of Central American children then coming across the border,” Ms. Atkinson added. “More importantly, he asked what he and UNITE HERE could do to support the unaccompanied children who were being picked up. Under D’s leadership, UNITE HERE has been a partner in our efforts to serve the children and the families, devoting both time and financial resources to the efforts, since that call.”
