I'll have an Abused-Worker sub sandwich with a Slave-Wage Soda, please

[marmar]

from In These Times:




Jimmy John’s Workers Hope Management ‘Freaks Out’ Over Union Drive

Friday
September 10
3:09 pm

By Kari Lydersen


Jimmy John’s, the sub sandwich shop popular on college campuses and metropolitan areas nationwide, touts its service as so fast it’s “freaky.” But a selling point for frazzled commuters or sleep-deprived students equals stressful, grueling work for employees who are often paid minimum wage with no benefits.

So workers at Jimmy Johns outlets nationwide have launched a union campaign with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The movement started in Minneapolis, and workers at Jimmy John’s outlets in 32 states held actions on Labor Day and throughout the past week.

The campaign evokes the six-year-old Starbucks union drive by the IWW—the independent radical union targeting a popular chain food service chain which markets itself as hip, irreverent and independent, despite being a huge corporation.

Employees at all Jimmy John's 1,000 shops nationwide are invited to join the Jimmy John's Workers Union. (The IWW often does not seek official union elections or negotiate contracts at specific workplaces; rather, it is one big national union that any worker can join.) Company founder Jimmy John Liautaud, national management and managers of local franchises have reportedly not acknowledged or met with the union. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6422/jimmy_johns_workers_hope_management_freak_out_over_union_drive/

[el_bryanto]

1. We need more unions - this is good.

I don't eat at Jimmy Johns (it's over on the other town) but Union Organizing is almost always a good thing.

Bryant

[FirstLight]

2. your title pulled me in...

Not just the workers of that specific chain, it seems that all of us fit that description...

good for them, i hope they unionize and that many more of these chains get nailed.

perhaps the last bastion of hope for the slave workers of retail and food service and customer service is Unionizing....