Service & Solidarity Spotlight: House Cafeteria Workers Get Better Pay, Protections Under New Contract

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here's today's story.

House cafeteria workers with UNITE HERE Local 23 are celebrating a new contract that raises wages and improves working conditions. The new contract includes a $3 hourly pay bump in the first year, a raise of $7.50 over five years, access to health insurance at no cost under the agreement beginning in 2026, increased pension contributions, protections for trans and nonbinary workers, and protections for employees who are victims of family or intimate partner violence, sexual assault or stalking.

"It started out, we were all thinking it was going to be tough," said Rickie Toon, a cook in the Ford House Office Building. "Just to see the support from other people coming in and helping us out. The company had no choice but to listen."