Fast Food Union Vote Fails

Close vote avoids union

By Andrew Pooch

            In Minneapolis, MN a group of 200 fast food workers were unhappy with the wages they were earning and decided to go as far to vote on creating a fast food union.  This vote was narrowly missed with 85 voting for and 87 voting against.

            The New York Times originally reported this event when a story broke of workers at a Jimmy John’s in Minneapolis wearing t-shirts that read, “Wages So Low You’ll Freak.”  The restaurant is known to have unique t-shirts and employees, but this motto was not approved by corporate.

            The fast food industry has been a difficult sector to unionize.  The complications exist with the age of most workers and the turnover that they cause.  The workers have expressed how the pay is low and the working conditions are unpredictable.  The shifts tend to be short and management isn’t sympathetic.

            “A union in fast food is an idea whose time has come,” said Emily Przybylski, in the New York Times, who is a bike delivery worker at Jimmy John’s who is also a social work student at the University of Minnesota.  “There are millions of workers in this industry living in poverty, with no consistent scheduling, no job security and no respect.  It’s time for change.”

            Mike Mulligan, the franchise owner of many Jimmy John’s shops in the Twin Cities spoke about how his employees are treated.  He felt that he treats his employees fairly and fears an uprising should this union follow through.  He felt that the employers had become a target of left-wing activists.  He encourages employees to stay at home if they have any illness.

            Micah Buckley-Farlee, a bike delivery worker, told the New York Times that he has a collapsed lung condition.  He once knew an attack was imminent, so he called into work. They told him to find a replacement for his shift.

            “I want a union for the little things – if you want a raise and the manager says no, you don’t have much to address,” said Buckley-Farley.  “And as for the big things like health coverage, you can’t get anywhere without a union.”

            Ultimately that decision to establish a union was rejected.  The employees will continue to work under the rules of management, which are undesirable.  The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that most fast food restaurants require a sick employee to find their own replacement for their shift or they are reprimanded.

            Other conditions include most employees being helpless against the minimum wage.  Employers have been quoted saying if they could pay less to their employees, they would.  The fast food industry has been thriving in this economy, so why aren’t employees getting raises?

            Too many workers are afraid to stand up to their bosses for fear that they will lose the job they desperately need.  With this failed attempt to unionize the fast food workers, the treatment will continue and workers will be scared to lose their jobs.