Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Steve Ahlquist’s Substack on January 2. Reprinted with permission.
From a press release:
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Union 328, which represents over 9,000 workers across a variety of industries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, announced that employees at all seven Seven Stars Bakery cafés have voted to authorize a strike, if necessary.
Employees have been bargaining with the company since September, with 10 sessions to date, to secure a new contract. Over the past few months, several tentative agreements have been reached; however, the company continues to make inadequate wage proposals. The company’s wage proposal would have new hires start at $12/hr over the next three years. Additionally, the company’s proposal would keep currently employed baristas at minimum wage for the next two years, with a 0.51 raise above minimum wage in the third year.
“As a long-time Seven Stars employee, it saddens me to see the negative direction this company is taking,” said Stephanie Walker, a Shop Steward from the Cranston location. “After years of committed service from many of us, we were hoping to see a wage proposal that reflects our dedication.”
This development comes after employees spent the week leading into Christmas outside their stores, handing out flyers to customers and collecting signatures, calling on the company to offer a living wage. During this action, the workers collected more than 800 signatures from supportive customers. The company’s proposal would also eliminate wage rate protections for returning employees enrolled in school.
“It’s so important to have worker power in this industry, especially when affordability is a major issue for our generation,” said Sarah Mello, a Shop Steward from the Point Street location. “Knowing that you can have a voice at a company that makes its money off the backs of its lowest-paid workers and fight for a living wage is so empowering. To our customers and community, WE are Seven Stars, not the faceless board members who profit off of our hard work. We’re sending the message to employers that underpaying and undervaluing your employees is unacceptable, and we will fight for better, for everyone!”
Additional bargaining sessions are scheduled in January. The employees of Seven Stars Bakery will be continuing to engage with the public and their communities to help bring attention to these matters, and are asking for continued support from customers by calling the Seven Stars office at 401-521-2200 EXT. 8 or emailing their CEO at [email protected] and telling them to commit to paying their workers a living wage.
“This entire contract campaign has shown the power of our bargaining unit,” said Grace Harvey, Shop Steward from the Broadway location. “Time and time again, the company has tried to offer us low wages and divide our group, and we have stood together in solidarity, wearing pins, handbilling customers, and letting the company know we will not settle for their low wage proposal. Getting the strike authorization vote last night was just another proof of our worker power. When we fight, we win!”
BACKGROUND:
In June 2022, the hardworking employees at all Seven Stars Bakery locations filed for a union election and demanded voluntary recognition from the owners, Bill and Tracy Daugherty. With an overwhelming majority of workers signing letters in support of the cause, they secured recognition by the end of the month.
Negotiations with the company began in October 2022 and went through December 2022, ending on December 22nd, 2022.
In a unanimous vote, workers accepted their first contract, which included guaranteed wage increases, eliminated the company’s on-call policy, and secured additional benefits and protections.
See also:
SteveAhlquist.news is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Want to comment? Click!