Jose Maldonado is the President of UNITE HERE Local 100, representing Food Service and Concessions workers across New York and New Jersey. A lifelong advocate for working people, Maldonado began his career as a grill man with Compass and quickly became active in the labor movement, participating in major strikes—including the four-year fight at the Box Tree Hotel and the Aramark strike—that secured historic gains for workers.
Prior to being elected President in 2021, Maldonado served as Secretary-Treasurer, where he played a key role in expanding the Local’s membership from 4,000 to more than 18,000 members. His leadership has been central in winning pension plans, family healthcare benefits, and in mentoring the next generation of union activists.
As President, Maldonado has continued to grow the Union’s power and impact. Jose Maldonado is the founder and architect of a dream training center for workers. In 2021, the Culinary Education Center was launched. Today, CEC is operating in the Bronx and Manhattan.
He stood alongside Sodexo workers at Newark Airport in 2022, supported Brooklyn Nets concessions workers in 2023 to avert a strike, and fought successfully to secure extended healthcare coverage for 15,000 JFK and LaGuardia airport workers in the New York State budget. Under his leadership, Local 100 has also made strong political interventions, endorsing key progressive leaders.
Jose Maldonado remains committed to raising industry standards, protecting workers’ rights, and building a stronger, more inclusive labor movement for all.