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.”

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Gilbert Galam of AFGE.

Gilbert Galam is a transportation security officer who serves as AFGE Local 1230 secretary and legislative political coordinator. He is also the AFGE District 12 Young Organizing Unionists for the Next Generation (Y.O.U.N.G.) coordinator and the vice chair of AFGE’s Asian Pacific Organized Workers Empowering Representation (A.P.O.W.E.R.). Galam became active in his local once he saw how unfairly workers were being treated and wanted to make a difference at his agency. He brings his contagious enthusiasm to the table for the labor movement.