Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. workers and activists gathered in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday to demand better conditions and a $20 minimum wage, resulting in the arrest of 11 protesters, including New York State Senator Jessica Ramos.
Roughly 200 people rallied on the corner of 48th St and 6th Ave., close to Rockefeller Center, at 3 p.m. New York time. Workers for the quick-serve Mexican restaurant chain collaborated with organizers at Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ, which represents some 175,000 workers in positions like doormen, security guards and food service.
Manny Pastreich, secretary treasurer of the union, said the action marks the first sustained attempt to organize Chipotle workers in the US. The effort comes amid a wave of unionization efforts at companies like Starbucks Corp. and Amazon.com Inc.
“They don’t pay enough,” Pastreich said. “People are working in conditions that aren’t safe,” adding that workers have complained of health and safety violations pertaining to the food as well as rats in buildings.
Chipotle has boosted average hourly wages 11% to $17.37, with managers making more, the company’s chief corporate affairs officer, Laurie Schalow, said in an emailed statement. The chain offers industry-leading benefits, including tuition reimbursement and quarterly bonuses.
“In our NYC restaurants, schedules are provided with hours that are mutually agreed upon by the manager and their employee,” she said. “Systems are in place for...
The DMK president blamed the AIADMK leader for trying to scuttle Ungaludan Stalin initiative when it was introduced, by filing a petition in the court against it DMK president and Chief Minister M....