Elmwood Taco & Subs workers are scheduled to vote next week on whether to unionize, and union organizers say the fast-food restaurant has broken the law in its quest to return a “no” vote.
In an effort to discourage unionizing, ETS held a mandatory meeting, cut worker hours and interrogated workers about union activity, according to workers. All of those activities are illegal, and workers have filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Unfortunately in the last month, instead of respecting workers’ right to organize, ETS management has responded with a number of union-busting measures,” said Casey Moore, a spokesperson for Workers United, the union workers are contemplating joining.
ETS declined to comment.
Worker Abel Lopez said he faced retaliation from management for organizing, and that his hours had been cut “drastically.” He used to work five days per week but has been cut down to two days.
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“They stated that the reason for this was that business is very slow this time of year,” Lopez said.
But that’s not the case, he said. And the company has posted a sign to try to hire more people, even as it cuts down worker hours.
“It’s been busy back-to-back, nonstop for weeks,” Lopez said.
ETS also held a mandatory anti-union meeting for workers, he said. Such meetings are illegal according to both New York State law and the National Labor Relations Act.
“It was their lawyer trying to deter us from continuing forward with the union,” Lopez said. “They brought up Starbucks and how they haven’t won anything, and said just because we’re in a union, it doesn’t mean you’re promised anything.”
Elmwood Taco & Subs has been family-owned and operated since it was founded in 1975 by Ron Lucchino. Today, it’s run by his two children, Mike Lucchino and Jackie Kooshoian.
Workers will vote Nov. 28 to decide whether to join the Workers United union.