Dandelion Chocolate

What Happened to the Dandelion Chocolate Union? | Eater SF

"A San Francisco and Bay Area favorite since opening in 2010, Dandelion Chocolate grew into a significant Mission District chocolate maker where employees like Christine Keating—who joined in 2014 and became lead chocolate educator—hosted classes and tours at its large factory. The company’s recent history has been fraught: in June 2020 workers reported a culture of “anti-Blackness” after a manager sent a racist text, and in 2021 staff organized the Dandelion Union, narrowly winning a vote (20 yes to 19 no in March 2021). Management then laid off at least nine pro-union employees and made other moves workers and the ILWU allege were aimed at undermining the union; the company says layoffs were driven by pandemic-related financial strain. The NLRB later found unfair labor practices in September 2021, but by then many affected workers had left or accepted confidential settlements that included cash and promises such as increased stock options, board seats for floor workers, and continued premium Kaiser health coverage. Founder Todd Masonis apologized in letters and reached agreements with some employees, and while Dandelion has since reopened its Valencia Street cafe for indoor dining, resumed food service at its Ferry Building outpost, and plans to open Bloom Salon inside the factory, the union’s ranks have been gutted (an estimated ten or more of the original “yes” voters have left) and the ILWU is no longer actively representing the effort, making it difficult to secure a first contract despite lingering claims that unfair labor practices were committed." - Paolo Bicchieri