Posts tagged Buffalo
Is “Salting” the Future of Organized Labor?
August 3, 2025 // MA: Another point to just make is that as a salt, you have to earn your keep. Yes, you’re in closer proximity to people, and you can talk to them and build relationships. But part of that is also like doing the work, being taken seriously as a fellow worker, who knows what the hell you’re talking about. JB: Exactly. You have to be a good coworker. I worked at Starbucks for eight months before ever saying the word union. And my role wasn’t to be the vanguard of the revolution. It was to find people, like Michelle Eisen, whose family were coal miners in Harlan County, Kentucky, who had a deep sense of social justice and a deep commitment to unions, and who quickly saw that her legacy at Starbucks could be helping build a union for everybody who would come after her.
A group of Dash’s Market employees want to unionize, but not everyone agrees
July 8, 2025 // “This is not a big corporation. This is a local, family-owned grocery chain, so I don't feel like it's necessary,” Dash's employee Adam Colin said in front of the Hertel store. “They're very understanding. They give you the time off when you need it. They're just giving you free food sometimes if you work long enough,” added another employee outside of the store. Dash’s President Mark Mahoney was also outside with employees who oppose the union but declined to comment when asked about the claims.
Dash’s Market workers seek to unionize
July 6, 2025 // Workers United has been active in organizing employees at many Starbucks locations around the country, as well as workers at Spot Coffee. Dash’s Market, which reportedly employs about 500 workers, celebrated 100 years in the grocery industry in 2023. The company was founded by Joe Dash’s grandparents, and the family also operated as a franchisee of the Tops Friendly Markets chain for many years.
Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Starbucks Baristas’ First-In-The-Nation Suit Challenging Constitutionality of NLRB
May 16, 2025 // Cortes and Karam’s case, originally filed in 2023, was the first in the nation to advance the argument that NLRB board members’ removal protections – which insulate members of the federal labor board from accountability to the President except on very rare occasions – violate separation of powers doctrines in Article II of the Constitution. Since Foundation attorneys filed the baristas’ case, the Trump Administration advanced the same arguments to remove Biden NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox from the Board, which is now the subject of ongoing litigation.
More than 2,500 nursing home workers across WNY plan to strike
May 13, 2025 // Caregivers from the following facilities are expected to walk off the job starting May 20 at 6 a.m.: Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Comprehensive Rehab and Nursing Center at Williamsville Elderwood at Lockport Elderwood at Williamsville Ellicott Center Garden Gate Manor Gowanda Nursing Home (excluding Pros/Techs) Newfane Rehabilitation & Health Center North Gate Manor Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace Absolut Care of Gasport Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns Schofield Residence The Grand at Delaware Park Williamsville Suburban Care Center
Vinnie Vernuccio Commentary: Trump can stop unions from tricking workers
May 4, 2025 // Unions won’t be open and transparent on their own, so Congress must step up. The SALT Act requires unions to file detailed public reports within 30 days of hiring a salt — the exact same thing that businesses have to do when they hire labor consultants. Workers deserve the transparency, accountability, and honesty that help them make a fully informed decision about whether unionization is right for them. And Trump can work with Congress to give workers this long-overdue power.
Starbucks Employee’s Constitutional Challenge to Labor Board Structure Fully Briefed at DC Circuit Court of Appeals
February 25, 2025 // On April 28, 2023, Cortes submitted a petition, supported by a majority of her colleagues, asking the NLRB to hold a decertification election at her Buffalo-area “Del-Chip” Starbucks store to remove Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) union officials’ bargaining powers over workers. However, NLRB Region 3 rejected Cortes’ petition, citing unfair labor practice accusations made by SBWU union officials against the Starbucks Corporation. Notably, there was no established link between these allegations and the employees’ decertification request. Similarly, Karam filed a decertification petition seeking a vote to remove the union at his Buffalo-area Starbucks store. Like Cortes’ petition, NLRB officials refuse to allow the vote to take place, citing claims made by SBWU officials. As a result the workers remain trapped under union “representation” they oppose.
La Colombe Fires West Loop Baristas as Unionized Workers Cry Foul
December 11, 2024 // During the meetings, the baristas were shown videos of them working. In the footage, the baristas were giving away free drip coffee to regular patrons, other service industry workers, and unhoused individuals. Throughout the meetings, the company’s representatives questioned the baristas and took detailed notes.
COMMENTARY: US Postal Workers Are Fighting Massive Service Cuts
November 11, 2024 // Thousands of US Postal Service jobs are at stake under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s modernization plan, which would close 200 mail processing plants and funnel all mail to 60 mega-plants. Postal workers are organizing to stop the plan.
Workers at Milk-Bone plant in Buffalo on strike
October 31, 2024 // "We were disappointed to learn of the Buffalo BCTGM Local 36G Union’s decision to strike. We have a strong track record of providing competitive wages and benefits to all employees and have always engaged fairly and transparently in our negotiations with our Union partners. Regarding our negotiations with the BCTGM, we are confident the agreement put forward was not only fair but competitive based on the current market. While we manage this issue, we remain committed to delivering on the needs of consumers. We have enacted contingency plans including shipping existing inventory and leveraging complementary labor to support production. We will also maintain production of our Milk-Bone dog snacks at our other manufacturing facilities as well as several co-packers."