Labor Day brings new organizing effort aimed at Jimmy John’s restaurant chain

Unions remain interested in organizing the restaurant business

Franchisees of the restaurant chain Jimmy John’s are facing a new organizing effort from the Jimmy John’s Workers Union, which is supported by the IWW, the same group that has been working to organize Starbucks in Minneapolis, Michigan, New York, and other states.  Workers apparently walked off the job in the last few days to announce their demands for improvements in wages and benefits.

“All we’re asking is for the Mulligans to meet with us. If they’re going to disrespect us by refusing to even talk to us, then they’re in for a bumpy ride. The pressure won’t stop until they meet our demands for more than minimum wage, sick days, and basic fairness,” said Jake Foucault, a delivery driver at Jimmy Johns.

The “union” has called for a national week of action to publicize their fledgling effort.  Events so far have been creative, and designed to attract intention, such as a bicycle protest in Minneapolis, and a protest at a Jimmy John’s located on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids, MI will be held on Labor Day.  The union says it expects leafleting and picketing planned in 32 of 39 states in which the company operates, as part of the National Week of Action.

As usual, I will end with my usual reminder: HR people and managers, including franchise owners in the restaurant/ QSR industry would be well served to pay attention to this effort, and the issues that are driving it.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Unions Have Lost (Found?) Their Way (humanresources.about.com)
• Jimmy Johns Workers Union | (cccentral.posterous.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tagged as: Business, Grand Rapids Michigan, Industrial Workers of the World, Jimmy John, Jimmy John's, Michigan, Minimum wage, Minneapolis, New York City, union organizing, United States