Chipotle Mexican Grill

Union Organizing in the Fast-Food Industry Is an Uphill Battle | Eater

"Employees at a company-owned fast-casual restaurant in a mall food court missed nine days of work after Hurricane Ida flooded the basement-level food court; management allegedly waited a week to notify staff and refused to pay for the lost shifts, costing one veteran crew member about $600 and leaving many others—mostly minimum-wage workers—financially strained. Workers and advocates describe a pattern of problems including alleged wage theft, unsafe conditions, last-minute shift changes, understaffing and retaliatory firings, and union and worker-rights groups have documented claims of sexual harassment, Fair Workweek violations, and retaliation for taking paid sick leave across stores in the area. After organizers from 32BJ SEIU helped rally crew members to protest the unpaid days—convincing some replacement workers to turn back and staging an all-day strike—corporate representatives reportedly interviewed staff individually without offering wage compensation and blamed the store’s well-regarded general manager, stoking fears of retaliation. The episode strengthened interest in unionization among crew members, who say collective action and the legal and political backing of a large union are their best prospects for safer, steadier work and fairer pay." - Lela Nargi