United Airlines food workers have voted to join Unite Here, adding 2,700 national members to the union, including 140 new Honolulu workers.

As many as 72 percent of workers in United Airlines’ catering kitchens in five cities, including Honolulu, voted to join the union in a National Mediation Board election. United Airlines’ catering operations filed for a union election in January, but the election was delayed at United’s request. However the board ruled workers were entitled to an election, which took place Sept. 18 to Oct. 23.

Martha Tipelo, a lead cook, said “I’m still feeling so excited. At work, we want to end the favoritism and workload problems. I want our lives to get better. That’s why we fought so hard for this one. This will change our lives!”

Unite Here is the labor union that represents 2,700 striking Local 5 hotel workers at five Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts-owned, Marriott-managed hotels in Hawaii.