New York City Defenders of Labor and Immigrant Rights take a stand to Stop Union-Busting and Job Destruction practices at Bröd Kitchen (formerly Hot & Crusty) in the Village

Labor groups defending workers’ rights in the heart of New York City.

New York City Defenders of Labor and Immigrant Rights take a stand to Stop Union-Busting and Job Destruction practices at Bröd Kitchen (formerly Hot & Crusty) in the Village

On January 14th, the owners of Bröd Kitchen on Manhattan’s Upper East Side suddenly announced that they would shut down the unionized bakery/restaurant permanently the following day. This attempt to throw the nineteen workers out of work is a clear attempt at union-busting. The company announced it at the same time they were supposed to begin negotiations for the union’s second contract. The union represents primarily immigrant and African American workers, some of whom had left their other jobs to work at Bröd.

Bröd is the new name of the Hot and Crusty bakery, where in 2012 workers waged a historic unionization campaign, shown in the award-winning documentary The Hand That Feeds. They fought hard for a better life for themselves and all workers, forming their own union, the Hot and Crusty Workers Association, which won paid vacations, de facto seniority, a union hiring hall and other crucial rights. By trying to wipe that out, Bröd’s owners are pushing forward a climate in which every right won by working people is under attack. These bosses prefer a non-union situation like that at Bröd’s new West 4th Street outlet, where workers don’t have the rights won by those at the 63rd Street location. In an effort to stand against this attempted union-busting, labor groups, activists and sympthizers will be rallying outside Bröd’s West 4th street store on January 28th.

Greedy and callous owners try to boost profits by destroying the rights and livelihood of workers and their families and NYC labor has a vital stake in this fight: in 2012, workers’ and immigrant rights activists helped the Hot and Crusty workers win, with a solidarity rally that brought out Verizon, Con Ed, MTA, hotel/restaurant and postal workers, NYC school and CUNY teachers, Laborers, UAW members and many others. The historic victory for workers’ and immigrant rights that was won three years ago is what Bröd’s owners are trying to destroy today.

© Erik Mc Gregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963