On Monday, March 26, 2018, Burgerville employees delivered an ultimatum to the company's Vanocuver headquarters demanding that they formally recognize the Burgerville Workers Union.
Molly Solomon / OPB
Workers at a second Burgerville store served up another union victory over the weekend. Employees at the Gladstone, Oregon, location voted 17-5 in favor of forming a federally recognized union.
The election comes less than a month after another store in southeast Portland voted to unionize, making it the first federally-recognized fast food store in nearly 40 years.
“It’s showing Burgerville that this is a thing that’s spreading,” said Gladstone employee Stefan Stackhouse. “We’re very excited about it and are eager to get to the bargaining table.”
Both elections were overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. The vote in favor of a storewide union legally obligates Burgerville to negotiate with the Burgerville Worker’s Union, which was formed two years ago by the Portland chapter of the Industrial Workers of the World.
Union demands include a $5 per hour raise, affordable health care, and fair and consistent scheduling.
The Vancouver-based fast food chain employs 1,500 people and has 42 locations across Oregon and southwest Washington. Officials at Burgerville responded after the vote Sunday with a statement that touted the company’s lead on everything from employee benefits to its use of cage-free eggs.
“Burgerville is a progressive, pro-employee company," said Beth Brewer, senior vice president of operations for Burgerville. “We have supported our employees with the freedom to educate themselves about the options of joining a union. Today, they opted for IWW representation, and we support their decision.”
The company and the union have already set plans for negotiations. A first bargaining meeting with the southeast Portland store is scheduled for May 22.