Jimmy John’s Workers Hope Management ‘Freaks Out’ Over Union Drive

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6422/jimmy_johns_workers_hope_management_freak_out_over_union_drive/


(Image courtesy JimmyJohnsWorkers.org)

Friday September 10 3:09 pm

By Kari Lydersen

Jimmy John’s, the sub sandwich shop popular on college campuses and metropolitan areas nationwide, touts its service as so fast it’s “freaky.” But a selling point for frazzled commuters or sleep-deprived students equals stressful, grueling work for employees who are often paid minimum wage with no benefits.

So workers at Jimmy Johns outlets nationwide have launched a union campaign with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The movement started in Minneapolis, and workers at Jimmy John’s outlets in 32 states held actions on Labor Day and throughout the past week.

The campaign evokes the six-year-old Starbucks union drive by the IWW—the independent radical union targeting a popular chain food service chain which markets itself as hip, irreverent and independent, despite being a huge corporation.

Employees at all Jimmy John's 1,000 shops nationwide are invited to join the Jimmy John's Workers Union. (The IWW often does not seek official union elections or negotiate contracts at specific workplaces; rather, it is one big national union that any worker can join.) Company founder Jimmy John Liautaud, national management and managers of local franchises have reportedly not acknowledged or met with the union.

The Jimmy John’s website invites visitors to “join our subculture,” and the company's blog drives the idea of "freaky" speed into the ground with race car driving news and other gimmicks. The company’s website touts its grassroots founding by 19-year-old Liautaud, and lauds its workers:

The culture that was created in the restaurants is the same culture that drives the corporate office. "Make a deal, keep a deal" is the Golden Rule. Do it now – make it happen – be a go-getter, no excuses. Jimmy John's employees are the ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They want to be the best. They don't mind doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Their hustle is part of how they live their daily lives, and they enjoy the fruits of a hard-earned entrepreneurial lifestyle. Once again, Jimmy John's wants only the best for the best.

FULL story at link.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Heh

I know the owner. I also know his dad who taught him that bizniz is a death contest, but on motorcycles.

They will spend many millions on lawyers fighting a union, when negotiating would cost half as much

[ClassWarrior]

2. Unrecs? Really?

NGU.