Karen Betancourt

Karen Betancourt is the Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 30 and has been a member of the union since 2018. She first became involved with Local 30 while working as a Room Service Server at the Westin Gaslamp, where she worked for eight years. Her entry into union activism began during the hotel’s 36-day strike in 2018, an experience that solidified her commitment to the labor movement.

Since then, Karen has served in a variety of leadership and staff roles within Local 30, including Organizer working on non-union NLRB elections, Head of the Grievance Department, Vice President, and now Secretary-Treasurer. In these roles, she has been deeply involved in organizing efforts such as coordinating actions, handling grievances, and supporting workers in organizing through both union elections and card-check neutrality agreements.

Most recently, Karen played a key role in Local 30’s 38-day strike at the Hilton Bayfront in 2024 and helped organize the Gaylord Hotel in Chula Vista. She has also navigated and overcome a hostile workplace with her supervisor, an experience she is proud of and one that strengthened her resolve to stand up for herself and her coworkers. Karen is deeply passionate about fighting for workers’ rights and is eager to continue learning through this program to grow as a leader and advocate.