![]() ![]() They don’t want Chipotle to falter, they just want to be treated fairly as partners in its success.Ī lot of others in the same situation feel the same way. ![]() The money will only partly compensate the workers for what they lost when they suddenly, illegally lost their jobs.īut to the workers, it’s worth it as long as others who are stuck in exploitative workplaces see what they’ve done and know they, too, can stand up for their rights. Under the agreement, in which Chipotle admits no fault, the money will be split among 24 workers who were on the payroll when the Augusta location closed.Ĭhipotle must also post a notice in about 40 stores in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts detailing how the company broke labor laws in Augusta, along with a commitment not to interfere with the rights of employees, including the right to unionize. When the Augusta location was closed after employees became the first in the country to file for union recognition, the company instead cited its “remote” location as a deciding factor.īut the National Labor Relations Board found Chipotle violated labor laws, leading ultimately to the settlement announced this week. The company said the location was closed due to construction, but the track record from Starbucks - guilty of violating labor laws 130 times across six states in less than two years - says otherwise.Ĭhipotle seems to be following the same playbook. When employees at a Starbucks in Biddeford became the first from that chain to unionize, they were retaliated against by the company, which employees say continues to prevent them from posting union information, as they are allowed to by law.Īnother Starbucks, in Portland’s Old Port, was closed after employees voted to join a union. In more than a few instances, companies have responded to talk of unionization by intimidating and firing the employees responsible, withholding benefits, or worse, hoping that they can stop the union movement from spreading. Workers at places like Amazon, Apple, Trader Joe’s and Tesla are organizing into unions in response to low pay, wage theft, unsafe workplaces, and uncertain work schedules. The well-being of millions of workers hangs in the balance, and more than a few realize the moment they’re in. The question is, will the demands for safety, dignity and security in low-wage industries be picked up by more workers, and customers too, or will this wave break under the weight of corporate power and public complacency? Chipotle workers hug after Brandi McNeas, far right, dropped off a letter about starting a union Wednesday, June 22, outside the Chipotle Mexican Grill in the Marketplace at Augusta. ![]()
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