FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2024
Contact: Maria DiPasquale | mdipasquale@rwdsu.org | 201-396-1021
SHE WOLF BAKERY WORKERS FILE FOR UNION ELECTION WITH RWDSU
Workers At Marlow Collective’s Beloved Bakery Seek A Union Voice, Joining Their NYC Greenmarket Neighbors, GrowNYC
(BROOKLYN, NY) – Today, workers at She Wolf Bakery filed for their union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking representation with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The filing came just after a delegation of workers at the Greenpoint, Brooklyn bakery marched on the boss to share with management that a majority of workers had signed RWDSU authorization cards. Workers have asked She Wolf Bakery to voluntarily recognize the union so that contract negotiations can commence swiftly. She Wolf Bakery workers have been organizing in conjunction with Brandworkers and the RWDSU around their shared issues in the workplace.
“I want to unionize because I love working at She Wolf and I want it to be a sustainable place to work for my coworkers and myself. Currently, we are financially insecure and fear having to weather unexpected expenses when we are barely able to afford our monthly costs of living here. With this union, we envision a stronger She Wolf, not only as a workplace but as an artisanal sourdough bakery business. Only by strengthening the material position of the workers will we be able to expand our production while still maintaining the handcrafted, high quality of our bread. She Wolf has an opportunity to set a new gold standard for bakeries across the city. She Wolf workers have our bread, but we need our roses!” said Sophie Porter-Hyatt (Any Pronouns), Current Baker and Former Market Staff at She Wolf Bakery.
“As someone who's worked in the food industry for 20 years, almost half of that time within the collective of businesses that She Wolf belongs to, I am ready to see a shift in the power balance in favor of the workers. I love making food and being a part of a company that engages in deep relationships with local farmers. But it's unacceptable that non-management workers do not receive a living wage or affordable health care, however committed they may be. Sustainability must include equity. We work long and demanding hours, often putting aside our own needs for the expectations of the job. An organized workplace gives us the opportunity to have a say in our working conditions, which means workers will be able to stay longer instead of hoping we will find a better situation elsewhere. A commitment to a fair and equitable workplace is essential if the company is going to continue to expand and impact the local food system,” said Michael Mangieri (He/Him), Baker at She Wolf Bakery.
When successful, the RWDSU will represent approximately 23 NLRA eligible workers at the Greenpoint, Brooklyn bakery. The workers in the proposed bargaining unit include Bakers, Market Staff, Wholesale Drivers, and Porters. Notably, at various NYC Greenmarkets, She Wolf Bakery market employees set up shop right near GrowNYC, whose workers unionized with the RWDSU in May 2023.
Information and updates about the current public campaign can be found on Instagram: @shewolfunion
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States, including 45,000 in New York State. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
Brandworkers supports NYC & NJ local food manufacturing workers to organize their workplaces into strong, worker-led unions. For more information visit their website at www.brandworkers.org. Facebook:/BrandworkersNYC Twitter: @Brandworkers