Are Companies Using the Pandemic as an Excuse to Stop Unions? | Eater

"This airport steakhouse employed a veteran server who for nearly nine years served signature Bloomin’ Onions and trained new hires while reporting verbal insults and a daily fear of being fired without cause. Operated by HMSHost, staff joined with the union Unite Here and won majority support among roughly 800 workers across the company’s airport restaurants, including other chains, seeking higher wages, health benefits, recall guarantees and stronger safety provisions. The campaign was derailed by the coronavirus: the NLRB delayed elections, HMSHost fought mail-in ballots and pushed for in-person voting, hired a labor-relations firm to hold captive-audience anti-union meetings in cramped rooms amid early social-distancing guidance, and has argued that furloughed employees (about 90% of the restaurant staff) should not be eligible to vote. As a result many employees remain furloughed without pay, insurance, or clear recall rights, and say management has signaled an intent to rehire non-union workers first, leaving staff demoralized and uncertain about the future of their union drive." - Matthew Sedacca