1st Recognized U.S. Fast Food Union (2016)
Tue Apr 26, 2016
Image: A march in support of the Burgerville Workers Union. A banner is prominently displayed: "BURGERVILLE WORKERS UNION" [portlandoccupier.org]
On this day in 2016, the Burgerville Workers Union (BVWU) formed with the help of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), eventually becoming the first formally recognized fast food union in the United States.
The fight for formal recognition took more than two years of worker-led organizing and strikes at multiple stores. In 2018, BVWU successfully applied for National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election.
On September 18th, 2018, National Cheeseburger Day, Burgerville workers went on strike, staging a picket in front of the Montavilla Burgerville location due to issues in bargaining and conflict over a ban on workers wearing Black Lives Matter and Abolish ICE buttons at work.
"We hope to lead a like a torchlight so that someone can say 'well, Burgerville did it, why can't we?'" said Alexander, one of the workers. "We hope to start the snowball effect."
- Date: 2016-04-26
- Learn More: archive.thinkprogress.org, portlandiww.org, www.portlandoccupier.org.
- Tags: #Labor, #IWW.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org
