Jimmy John's Employees Plan First Fast-Food Union

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Oct 4th 2010 @ 1:00PM

If there's any a workplace that needs a union, it's fast-food chains. Minimum wages, no sick days, and strategically allotted shifts so no one qualifies for adequate health benefits. It's barely enough income to make a living, much less support a family -- and Jimmy John's Minneapolis franchise co-owner Mike Mulligan agrees.

As CityPages.com reports, the workers at Jimmy John's could be the first ever fast-food employees to form a union. A little over two weeks ago, sandwich-makers and delivery drivers from 10 Minneapolis outposts of the chain approached the local office of the National Labor Relations Board to file for a vote, which would force owners to recognize the union, reports CityPages.com.

Though Mulligan agrees the conditions are not conducive to supporting a family, he tells CityPages that there's plenty of opportunity to move up in the company. The local franchises have done well since Mulligan and his son Rob acquired them in 2001, but the profit is not exactly trickling down.

"We're reinvesting our profits in the business, sure, but if we had to pay our employees something out of scale with what you see in other quick-service restaurants, we wouldn't be able to be competitive," he tells CityPages, adding: "What we're telling our employees is, 'Look, these are the jobs we have to offer.'"

But when the entire industry is flawed -- fewer than two percent of all restaurant workers are unionized, CityPages notes -- maybe it's time for a shake-up. While Minneapolis unionizers are gaining support from Jimmy John's employees nationwide, Mulligan's stores will likely hold back as long as they can. Macalester College labor historian Peter Rachleff tells CityPages, "If these guys are seen to succeed, it could really light a fire, because the dissatisfaction is unquestionable. The corporation knows that, and they have a lot of resources...plenty of lawyers."

If Jimmy John's breaks the mold, it'll no doubt give a voice to many more fast-food chain workers, who, CityPages notes, are typically teenagers, minority or elderly employees.

Filed Under: Fast Food, Chain Stores / Restaurants
Tags: fast food union, FastFoodUnion, jimmy johns, JimmyJohns

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-05-2010 @1:09PM Fellow Worker said... Congrats and best wishes to the Jimmy John's workers!

To the writer: please do not just repeat City Pages sloppy reporting. There have been dozens of fast food unions organized in North America, and some active that represent fast food workers right now, like CAW 3000 in British Columbia.
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