On Tuesday, more than a dozen Burgerville fast food workers and their supporters held a rally and march to launch their new union--the Burgerville Workers' Union. The workers have organized themselves at multiple stores in Portland and Vancouver. They are demanding a $5 an hour raise for all hourly workers as part of negotiations with the union.
Today's guests are members and organizers from the new union.
Burgerville prides itself on being a local, sustainable fast-food restaurant, with company headquarters in Vancouver, Washington. But their commitment to sustainability doesn't seem to extend to their workers. As one of them said, "I'm fight for a raise so I don't have to go further and further into debt just to buy groceries and pay my rent."
The Burgerville Workers' Union is affiliated with the Portland IWW.
Yesterday's rally and march brought together community groups and labor unons to show their support for the Burgerville workers, including ILWU Local 5, IATSE Local 28, SEIU 49, Portland Association of Teachers, OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, Jobs With Justice, Alberta Co-op Collective Management, People's Food Co-op, Blue Heron Collective (Reed College), PDX Solidarity, PCASC, and the Marilyn Buck Abolitionist Collective.
- KBOO