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New York City's first unionized pizzeria has joined Workers United, the same group that organized Starbucks workers, after a year of restaurant labor activity.
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In May, Barboncino's Crown Heights workforce told management of their desire to unionize and requested the shop's voluntary recognition.
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After that failed, the staff voted unanimously to unionize on Wednesday, with almost two-thirds of eligible voters. The 2022 store owners must now negotiate a contract with the workers.
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New York's top pizzeria is Barboncino. The neighborhood's greatest restaurant opened in 2011. The pizzeria's manager and his wife took over last year after the owner sold it.
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The union campaign began last year under previous ownership after staff were forced to serve customers while cleaning a basement sewage leak, which one employee called "a public-health nightmare."
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Barboncino servers say they are "fueled by our collective desire for a workplace that respects and honors our contributions to its success, as well as a commitment to raising the bar for the entire industry."
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Nearly 40 pizzeria workers will be unionized. The workers want greater wages, protection from disciplinary actions, health care, and more stable schedules.
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Barboncino employees also want a role in how the business is operated and hope to set an example for other restaurants and industries by unionizing as the first local pizza shop.
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This follows key chain union drives. Worker's United is most known for unionizing over 340 Starbucks stores. Workers United also helped Peet's Coffee and Ben & Jerry's win unions this year.
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Organized labor in food service is still young compared to the size of the business, but 2023 might be a tipping moment where it became a widespread movement.
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