Looking Forward: New Directions and Strategies for Labor

Elaine Bernard
DSA Vice-Chair

During its 2013 annual conference in New York City, the Labor and Working Class History Association is hosting two important public forums.  On Saturday, the closing plenary will focus on “New Directions and Strategies for Labor.”

Looking Forward: New Directions and Strategies for Labor
Saturday, June 8, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Location: The Great Hall, Cooper Union

• Opening Remarks John Wilhelm Past President, UNITE-HERE
• Chair Ruth Milkman CUNY Graduate Center and Murphy Institute for Worker Education
• Ed Ott Past President, New York Central Labor Council
• Jaribu Hill Executive Director, Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights
• Erik Forman Jimmy John’s Workers Union, Industrial Workers of the World
• Linda Burnham Research Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance
• Closing Remarks Elaine Bernard Executive Director, Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School

Labor Board Ruling in Favor of Jimmy John’s Workers–A Big Win for Labor

by Eric M. Fink

In a win for labor, an NLRB Administrative Law Judge has ruled that management at a Minneapolis Jimmy John’s franchisee committed multiple unfair labor practices against workers involved in a union organizing effort. The judge ordered the company to reinstate and pay full back wages to six workers who were illegally fired, and to rescind written warnings that were illegally issued to three other workers.

The illegal firings and warnings came in the wake of a campaign by the Industrial Workers of World to organize workers at 10 Jimmy John’s stores operated by the francishee, MikLin Enterprises. In a representation election conducted by the NLRB in October 2010, employees narrowly voted against IWW representation by an 85-87 margin. However, after the IWW filed objections and unfair labor practice charges based on the employer’s pre-election conduct, the union and the company agreed to a settlement under which the IWW may seek a rerun election.

Jimmy John’s Union Election Nullified Due to Employer Labor Rights Violations

Jimmy Johns Workers Union

The National Labor Relations Board approved a settlement on January 10 nullifying the results of the historic October 22 union election at Jimmy John’s, putting victory back on the table for the nation’s first-ever union in franchised fast food. The settlement validates workers’ claims that franchise owners Mike and Rob Mulligan were able to squeak out an 87-85 victory in the election only by resorting to unlawful tactics including threatening a wage freeze, intentionally fabricating rumors that the union engaged in sabotage, retaliating against union supporters, and numerous other labor rights violations.

With the tainted election results nullified, the union is asking the franchise owners to negotiate over its “10 Point Program for Justice at Jimmy John’s,” a comprehensive package of reforms that will bring respect, dignity, and democracy to the fast food workplace.