Stephen Starr Workers Protest Alleged Workplace Violations | Eater DC

"Workers at the restaurant joined a public rally and are part of a trio of locations cited by Unite Here Local 25 for alleged “unjust working conditions”; the union has filed NLRB complaints over labor‑law violations at two Starr restaurants and workers have filed EEOC statements alleging hostile work environments “on the basis of race, sex, and disability,” as well as failures to accommodate pregnant employees. The restaurant is described in coverage as a “perennially packed brasserie over on 14th Street since 2013.” Employees across the three restaurants announced unionization plans in mid‑January; Local 25 says 60 percent of workers have signed union authorization cards and the three locations together employ about 400 people. The union alleges management refused to acknowledge workers’ right to unionize; management issued a statement asserting commitment to a “respectful, fair workplace” and support for a secret‑ballot NLRB election: “The management at [the restaurants] are committed to fostering a respectful, fair workplace environment where staff feel welcome, safe, and heard... Our day‑to‑day staff – the people in the kitchens, on the floor, and behind the bar – are the lifeblood of our restaurants.” Local 25 says a majority signing at these locations would grow the 75‑year‑old union (which currently represents about 500 restaurant workers around the DMV) and that its membership is primarily immigrants and women of color. The broader organizing context includes simultaneous efforts at other major D.C. hospitality groups and reported meetings between members of Congress and workers on Capitol Hill." - Tierney Plumb