University of Washington students rally to support workers at Homegrown Sandwiches
Seattle, WA – On Wednesday, April 5, students rallied in front of Suzzallo Library in the University of Washington’s Seattle campus to support Homegrown workers in their fight for a contract. The rally was called by the Progressive Student Union at UW (PSU), a chapter of New Students For A Democratic Society.
In the middle of campus, students and community members came to hear speeches from union organizers, rank-and-file Homegrown workers, and other students in solidarity with the union campaign at Homegrown Sustainable sandwiches.
Homegrown workers voted to unionize with UNITE HERE Local 8 last December after a long fight for recognition and are now in the process of fighting for their first contract. The company has not yet agreed to ensure safer working conditions at the cafes, adequate staffing, or just cause for discipline, delaying and dragging their feet at every turn. In response, Homegrown workers are organizing to take action on the shop floor, and to reach out to the company’s customers asking them to drop Homegrown sandwiches from their stores. The University of Washington is a customer of Homegrown and sells the wholesale sandwiches in its medical center.
Taking the stage at the event, Zane Smith, a rank-and-file worker at Homegrown, declared, “We're fighting for better wages, better working conditions, transparent discipline, and in all fights, a fight for power!”
Emceeing the event, Mantak Singh emphasized the need for a strong labor movement as well as a strong student movement to support workers’ struggles. Mathieu Chubaud, representing PSU, added, “We can start winning things, here, at UW, that support the workers at Homegrown.”
Throughout the rally, the crowd chanted, “What do we want?” answered by “A strong contract” or “Equal treatment!” “When do we want it? Now!”, “If we don’t get it? Shut it down!” and “Union busting is disgusting!”
UNITE HERE Local 8 is calling on the university and other costumers to boycott Homegrown products starting May 1 if a contract is not signed by then.