D. Taylor is an American labor leader and the International President of UNITE HERE. He has been a prominent leader in the labor movement for over 35 years, and was first elected President of UNITE HERE in 2012.

Taylor is originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, and first joined the union as a steward in a Washington, DC restaurant he worked in while attending Georgetown University in the 1970’s. He was hired on by the union full time upon graduating, and moved to Nevada where he rapidly rose through the ranks.

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Taylor’s tenure in Nevada included helping grow the union, Culinary Workers 226, from 18,000 members to over 55,000 between 1987 and 2013. He also lead and won a seven year continuous strike at Frontier Casino – the longest successful strike in UNITE HERE’s history. He also lead negotiations with the largest casinos on the Strip, pioneering higher standards in wages, healthcare, and workload that turned once low paying hospitality jobs into sustainable careers.

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In 2004, Taylor was appointed the Gaming Division Director of UNITE HERE’s International Union. In this role he lead casino workers to victory across North America, and successfully organized new members in Mississippi, Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. He also oversaw UNITE HERE’s expansion into Tribal Gaming in California and lead Atlantic City workers through a strike. In 2009, Taylor was elected General Vice President of the international union before being elected General President in 2012.

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In his tenure as International President of UNITE HERE, Taylor has continued to focus on new organizing and growth of the union including in Southern states, and raising the standards for workers in traditionally low paid positions. He set and achieved ambitious organizing goals including winning 50,000 new members in 4 years, and led UNITE HERE to its largest year of growth ever in 2017. Two of his top priorities as International President have been developing leaders of color within the union, and empowering young people as both members of and leaders in UNITE HERE. Taylor has also overseen innovative immigration organizing and advocacy within the union, and made healthcare and affordable prescription drugs a marquee union priority across the country.