Seattle, WA – On the afternoon July 25, workers at Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches held a press conference outside Homegrown/Artisan Premades headquarters to condemn CEO Brad Gillis’ sudden announcement that he intends to close ten of the 12 Homegrown restaurants on September 15, putting over 150 people out of work.

Gillis’ announcement comes just three months after workers, members of Unite Here Local 8, ratified their first union contract, following a militant two year contract campaign. During the event, workers at various Homegrown locations came forward to give statements to the press that had gathered. Many of them expressed devastation, as well as shock, at the closures and how they received the news.

“We’re in shock. Completely out of nowhere, we saw there was a notice put up on the government website WARN, which legally requires employers to notify people 60 days in advance of layoffs, and that was how we found out. We’re going to call it what it is, which is union busting,” said Zane Smith, a worker at the Redmond Homegrown.

Other workers reflected on their contract campaign and the benefits and protections they had won, which had made their campaign an inspiration to workers across the country.

“I’m heartbroken.” said Sydney Lankford, who also works at the Redmond Homegrown. “In October I was illegally fired by this company for speaking in a union delegation. My coworkers and I went on strike, and we won. We won my reinstatement, and then we won this kickass contract – for ourselves, and for other food service workers.”

“Brad Gillis never came to us, he never came to our union to talk this over or bring alternatives. Brad didn’t make a business decision; he made a decision to not give workers livable wages – he is a union buster,” Lankford continued.

Zane Smith, who fought alongside Lankford and their coworkers and the Redmond Homegrown, was next to make remarks. “It’s important for us to be out here today because food service workers in Seattle, and the US, have looked to our campaign, they’ve looked to what we’ve won in terms of heat pay and our historic first contract, but also because bosses are looking to Brad right now. Workers in this country are rising up, organization is on an upswing right now over the last five years, and bosses are looking for ways to kill the momentum that workers have.”

“Brad may think that he’s won by shutting down our union, by firing 158 people who now have to find healthcare, pay rent, and find ways to feed their kids elsewhere, but he has not. 150 people are going to go to their next job knowing that when workers stand up, we can win, and knowing that the fight is worth it,” said Smith.

Homegrown workers say they will continue to fight against union busting and for severance, as well as the protection of as many jobs as possible.

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor #UNITEHERE #Homegrown #Layoffs #UnionBusting #Feature

The Homegrown Worker’s Union, members of Unite Here Local 8, was notified on July 18, after it leaked in the news, that Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches plans on closing 10 out of its 12 locations, effective September 15. The company has confirmed that this closure would result in the layoffs of 158 of its employees. We condemn these closures and layoffs in the strongest possible terms. We are enraged and devastated that after over two years of organizing and action to win livable wages and benefits for Homegrown workers, our CEO has chosen this course. Employees, including managers, were notified of this decision via email just 60 days before the proposed date of the closures, the minimum timeline required by Washington State law, and have been given no further information at this time.

In an email sent out to all employees at 3:42 pm on July 18, Homegrown CEO Brad Gillis claimed, “economic impacts, including rising labor costs and food prices, have created an unsustainable model for keeping all of our locations in business.” We fully reject the implication that it is impossible to pay food service workers a livable wage and benefits while staying in business. We will call this what it is – union busting.

From the beginning, our union has been a source of unity and strength for those of us who work at Homegrown. When just one of our coworkers was fired for her organizing, dozens of workers at multiple locations in the company went on strike for several months to win her job back. By staying united and taking strong and militant actions in our contract fight, we won a workplace with livable wages, protections, and heat pay. In the process, we have inspired food service workers across the country to fight for what they deserve. We extend our love and solidarity to these workers and encourage them to keep fighting, wherever they are, for the job and wages they deserve.

Our fight for sustainable jobs, living wages, and benefits is a just fight. A system that allows CEOs to terminate over 150 employees in search of higher profits elsewhere is an unjust system. We are still investigating the terms and specifics of Homegrown’s decision, and we will fight steadfast against union busting with any and all tools available to us.

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor #UNITEHERE #Homegrown #UnionBusying

Seattle, WA – On Wednesday, March 13, Homegrown workers across Seattle voted 100-1 to ratify their contract, after a successful strike to win reinstatement for their fired coworker.

Homegrown workers at the sandwich company’s Redmond and Southcenter cafes have also officially ended their strike and returned to work after the reinstatement of union leader Sydney Lankford, who was fired illegally on October 30.

Last month, the company agreed to a deal that allowed Lankford to return to work with $10,000 in back pay. Her coworkers, who have been on strike for her reinstatement since October 30, have returned to work as well, with their heads held high. Southcenter Mall Homegrown workers are back to work as well, 80 days after joining the strike.

“We won! It’s been such a long and hard fight, but we won,” said Kairi Beliz, a worker at the Southcenter Homegrown. “Even though it’s been super hard I’m so proud of us and everyone who stood by our side, and all of the young workers who have had the courage to be out on the streets with us. I hope we can inspire other workers, especially food workers, to stand up for themselves against unfair labor practices, and see that service work is not lesser work.”

This victory for Homegrown workers also brings a conclusion to the militant, year-and-a-half long campaign workers have fought for their first contract. Over the course of the strike, workers won affordable healthcare for themselves and their dependents, along with 50 cents more per hour then was previously on the table. They also won two years of successorship language that would protect the union in the event that the company is sold.

On March 13, workers signed into effect a powerful contract with strong safety language, large pay raises, benefits, and tipping language. In addition to the most recent strike, majority strikes across the company in the summer of 2023 and 2022 helped secure these gains.

Some of the highlights of this new contract include an immediate $3.25 across-the-board raise, and a total of $7 in raises by 2026. Workers also won heat pay language that would ensure they make double pay if store temperatures reach 86 degrees, and time-and-a-half pay over 82 degrees. They have also won paid 30 minute breaks, time off accrual upon hire that goes up to four weeks a year for tenured workers, affordable healthcare, automatic 10% tips on all DoorDash orders, fair discipline and just cause, and air quality protections.

Homegrown workers also won protections for immigrant workers, which prevent the company from working with ICE, and translation rights for Spanish-speaking workers.

Workers across the company voiced excitement over the contract, as well as hope it will spark many more union drives to come.

“I’m really excited about heat pay, because it gets really unbearable during the summer, I’m excited about paid 30s, and I’m excited to be able to leave without discipline if it gets too hot,” said MacKenzie Shannon, a worker at the Redmond location.

“A $3.25 per hour raise immediately and $7 over three years is enormous. It is the difference between making and not making rent, between scraping by and having some breathing room,” added Zane Smith, another worker and bargaining committee leader at the Redmond cafe.

“I’m so proud that we have won the strike, we gave it our all and stayed strong and united for 80 days and we are now excited to see this contract. We’re excited to show other workers in the Southcenter Mall who aren’t unionized what they can get, because they deserve to have good jobs too,” said Perry Meas, a worker at the Southcenter Mall Homegrown.

“I am very excited to have way better healthcare than I’ve ever had at any job, as well as better pay and job protections” said Adam Balk, a worker at HAPS. “A rising tide lifts all ships, so hopefully this will help other workers in the food service industry as well.”

Sydney Lankford, the union committee member who’s unfair firing sparked the strike, gave one last, inspiring message to other workers, stating “Every company will pay you only as much as it takes to get you back to work the next day. We raised our bar 20 fold and so can any other workplace! We are one of many union shops to come; one job should be enough. I am so proud of us. Go, fight, win all that can be won! We built organization, fought hard and won big. I hope other workers see this kick ass contract and decide that they can take their power back too.”

Homegrown workers plan to stay organized as they move into enforcing their contract, and hope to continue to inspire food service workers, and workers across industries, with their campaign.

For a more in depth feature on Homegrown worker organizing, check out this episode on Fight Back! Radio.

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor #Strike #Homegrown #Feature

Seattle, WA – For the 106th day in a row, Redmond and Southcenter workers were out on the picket lines this past Sunday. The picket line covered the east entrance of the Westfield Southcenter mall, which holds the Southcenter Homegrown Cafe. The cafe has been closed since late November, when workers there walked out to join Redmond Homegrown workers on strike for their coworker’s reinstatement.

As workers picketed, they chanted, “One, two, three, four, Homegrown fires no more!” and “Five, six, seven, eight, backpay and reinstate!”

Workers at Homegrown have been on strike since union leader Sydney Lankford was fired after speaking up in a union delegation on October 30. All her coworkers walked out that day and were joined on November 24 by workers at the Southcenter Homegrown. They are demanding Lankford get her job back and full reinstatement. As of February 6, Redmond workers have been striking for over 100 days.

“I'm still out here fighting because we need to show the company that they can't fire us for standing up and they have to respect our union,” said Zane Smith, a worker at the Redmond location.

“I’ve been working with Sydney for over a year and a half, until she got fired unfairly for speaking up in a union delegation,” said Kaden McAllister “I can’t believe they fired her, because she is like half of what gets done at the store. We are ready to keep striking until she gets hired back.”

This is not the first time workers at the Redmond store – and across all of Homegrown – have been out on strike. Homegrown workers have also been fighting for a union contract with higher wages and affordable healthcare. Workers have won time-and-a-half pay when temperatures in the workplace rise above 82 degrees and double-time when temperatures are above 86 degrees. “Working in an old, poorly ventilated building with a hot smoking oven is extremely uncomfortable and exhausting. Heat pay will make the situation more tolerable and worthwhile,” said Katrina Gunvaldson.

“The contract that we have on the table is one of the best, if not the best, first contract ever negotiated by our union,” said Clio Jensen, a worker at the Kirkland Homegrown, who joined her coworkers on the picket line. “And we did it by waging the most militant contract campaign the food service industry has seen in recent years. Our coworkers are showing that when we fight, we win – and we will not stop until Sydney is back working with us.”

Negotiations with the company are underway, and workers are confident that their solidarity and continued campaign will put them back to work soon – with Sydney Lankford alongside them.

#SeattleWA #Labor #Strike #Homegrown #Feature

Seattle, WA – On Thursday, September 14, over 100 Homegrown workers from six retail locations walked off the job to demand a new contract. The strike took place across the greater Seattle area for three consecutive days. Each day the strike grew, so that by Saturday, workers from all eight of nine Homegrown locations had joined. Homegrown workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 8 and have been bargaining with the company for over eight months.

Homegrown workers’ militancy has led to significant progress in contract negotiations. However, the company refuses to move on a few key issues. “We're striking because we got stonewalled in our last bargaining session,” said Owen Juell, a worker at Homegrown’s University Village location. “And right now, we're fighting for successorship language so we can keep our union if the company's sold, a fair living wage, and health insurance that we can afford.”

“I need healthcare for my family, wife, and my two kids,” said Russell Concha, a Homegrown catering driver. Currently, Homegrown’s healthcare doesn’t cover spouses or dependents, and can cost over $800 a month, which is unaffordable for on their substandard wages. “I want a wage that allows me to save for college and live on my own,” added Mackenzie Shannon, a Homegrown worker from Redmond.

On the first day, picketing began at 10 a.m. at Homegrown shops in Capitol Hill, Redmond, Mercer Island, and Queen Anne. At the Capitol Hill picket, workers were joined by members of Seattle’s Strike Solidarity Committee, local community activists, and other union workers. “It's great. Capitol Hill's a really big community in a lot of ways. And so it's cool that we're able to be here because we've had a lot of really positive support,” said Juell. “We've been getting a bunch of honks. People are yelling across the street, chanting with us. It's been awesome.”

At 2 p.m., striking workers and their supporters gathered on Mercer Island for a joint picket and rally. Those on the picket line were not afraid to call Homegrown’s owner, Brad Gillis, out by name in their demands. Chants of “Brad, Brad, give us cash! Power to the working class!” and “Brad got his milk and honey but Homegrown workers got no money!” could be heard throughout the neighborhood.

On Friday, workers from Homegrown’s store in downtown Seattle walked out to join in the strike effort. Their shop is one of the most well-trafficked in the area. Workers mobilized from locations around the city to pressure the company back to the bargaining table. Accompanying the downtown effort, another picket took place on Mercer Island, where activists and union members mobilized from as far as Tacoma to show solidarity. Each picket had dozens of Homegrown workers and were militant displays of worker power led by the rank and file.

The strike was punctuated by the strongest showing yet on Saturday. Workers from the Kirkland Homegrown joined the strike, which meant that no Homegrown locations across the Seattle area remained open for business. “This picket is awesome. It’s fantastic. I didn't know there would be more people actually joining us on this picket. It’s been like this the whole strike,” said Concha.

Newly hired Homegrown worker Lucia Lambert had a simple but powerful message for all workers who want better working conditions. “This strike has made a lot of progress, so it works,” she said. “I'm actually on insurance from the postal office, which was family insurance that was won by a union a long time ago. My stepdad's a mailman back in Minnesota and we've got like seven people on it. They even include stepkids. I know that I'm benefiting from union insurance, and I feel like if you're fighting for family insurance from a union, I have to show up.”

Homegrown workers await a response from the company on the key issues that have stonewalled negotiations and are prepared to continue escalating to win their demands.

#SeattleWA #Homegrown #UNITEHERE #UNITEHERELocal8 #Strike