Stephen Starr Workers Protest Alleged Workplace Violations | Eater DC

"Workers at the restaurant joined a rally alleging “unjust working conditions,” according to Unite Here Local 25; the hospitality workers’ union previously filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board over alleged labor law violations in two Starr restaurants, and workers have filed statements with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging hostile work environments “on the basis of race, sex, and disability; as well as failures to accommodate pregnant women in the workplace.” The group also filed at D.C.’s Office of Human Rights saying Spanish‑speaking pregnant employees were not notified of their rights under the District’s Paid Family Leave Law. Pastry cook Maria Delgado said in a statement: “When I told management that I needed time off to have my baby ... management did not explain to me the rights I had in this city as a new mother,” and “I learned all this thanks to one of my colleagues who explained my rights to me.” Workers at this location announced plans to unionize in mid‑January; Local 25 says 60 percent of workers across the three restaurants have signed union authorization cards to date and that this location will vote in an NLRB election on February 28. Local 25 says the three restaurants collectively employ around 400 people and that a majority signing would grow the 75‑year‑old union (which currently represents about 500 restaurant workers around the DMV), whose membership Local 25 says is primarily immigrants and women of color. The union alleges management refused to acknowledge workers’ right to unionize; in response, management issued a statement reading in part: “The management at [the restaurants] are committed to fostering a respectful, fair workplace environment where staff feel welcome, safe, and heard. As such, we also support an individual’s right to vote about the future of their work environment, including supporting the National Labor Relations Board’s conducting of a secret ballot election where every employee is able to vote without the influence of any party. Our day‑to‑day staff – the people in the kitchens, on the floor, and behind the bar – are the lifeblood of our restaurants. And so we take pride in the benefits, professional workplace, and growth opportunities we offer our workers, and we believe that’s why we have a stellar reputation in the industry, with many of our employees staying with us for years.” A longtime front‑of‑house employee (speaking on condition of anonymity) identified as anti‑union said: “I’ve worked in toxic places before, and this is not one of those places,” and “I have never had any issues advocating [here] on my own behalf. It affects all of us — everyone has to join the union or leave.” That same employee criticized the union’s organizing pace: “It was done so quickly and secretly and didn’t include every single employee,” and “I think this is the union’s attempt to make a name for themselves and push over as many dominos as they can while collecting member dues.”" - Tierney Plumb