The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and the Struggle for the Soul of Labor Highlight

If Las Vegas is the sham version of the American dream, the version that grins and dazzles you and rips you off and leaves you broke, then the Culinary Union is the actual American dream in action. Out of nothing, this union has built a system that allows an immigrant to this country who works hard to provide health care to her children, support her family, buy a home, and retire with a pension. And while doing all of that, that person can talk and vote and participate in democratic decisions of an organization strong enough to make the mayor and the governor and the senators and the presidential candidates all come down to the union hall to hear what they have to say.