UNITE HERE Local 25 Restaurant Worker Solidarity Campaign
Join the pledge to honor the D.C. restaurant workers union boycott of STARR’s Osteria Mozza, The Occidental and Le Diplomate, and Knightsbridge’s Rasika, Modena and Bombay Club!
––––––
UNITE HERE Local 25 is holding informational pickets outside of Le Diplomate to tell people about STARR’s union busting tactics, as well as STARR's Osteria Mozza & The Occidental to let the public know the workers there do not have a union contract!
Hundreds of restaurant workers at high-end restaurants across D.C. are organizing to join UNITE HERE Local 25. In January, supermajorities of workers demanded voluntary recognition at three STARR restaurants: St. Anselm, Pastis, and Le Diplomate. STARR refused and instead resorted to classic union-busting tactics that workers say should have no place in D.C. restaurants. Workers have reported that the company offered raises and promotions in exchange for campaigning against the union, threatened workers, and hired multiple outside anti-union “persuaders” to campaign daily against the union.
On February 21st, workers at St. Anselm voted to join Local 25. Instead of recognizing the result of the election, STARR Restaurants filed objections – joining Amazon in claiming that the NLRB lacks authority to certify union elections when there is not a quorum of NLRB members. There was not a quorum because Trump fired a member of the labor board in January. STARR also petitioned the NLRB’s Regional Office to cancel the union election at Le Diplomate scheduled for March.
Between STARR’s objection to the election at St. Anselm where workers won the union, their interference in the Pastis election, and their cancellation of the election at Le Diplomate, it’s clear that STARR does not respect free and fair NLRB elections. Local 25 has called on STARR to agree to a fair process for workers to decide on unionization at all of STARR’s D.C. restaurants free from threats and intimidation.
Between STARR’s objection to the election at St. Anselm where workers won the union, their interference in the Pastis election, and their cancellation of the election at Le Diplomate, it’s clear that STARR does not respect free and fair NLRB elections. Local 25 has called on STARR to agree to a fair process for workers to decide on unionization at all of STARR’s D.C. restaurants free from threats and intimidation.
––––––
If you are interested in helping with volunteer mobilization to get community members to show up to these pickets, please fill out this interest form. You don't have to be a member of DSA to join these pickets or participate in solidarity actions, anyone who wants to help grow the labor movement is welcome!
Reach out to us at labor@mdcdsa.com with any questions. Thank you, and solidarity!
