Cynthia Patterson has been an active and committed member of UNITEHERE Local 100 since 2006, representing her coworkers at Gourmet at Montclair State University as a Shop Steward. Since 2015, Cynthia has served on the Union’s Executive Board, bringing her passion for advocacy, learning, and community-building into every space she enters.
Cynthia enjoys learning the inner workings of the Union, traveling to new places, and connecting with fellow Union members from different backgrounds. One of her most memorable experiences was visiting a school in Boston—a trip that deepened her understanding of Union solidarity and inspired her continued involvement.
Cynthia has also participated in the Union’s Better Leaving Program, taking a leave of absence from her workplace to support the Union’s Health Fund initiatives. Through this work, she has helped lead various programs aimed at improving well-being and access to resources for Union members.
Cynthia’s dedication to the labor movement and her desire to uplift others continue to drive her work both at Montclair and across the wider Union community. Cynthia has canvassed for several Union friendly candidates doing member-to-member GOTV (Get Out The Vote) work.