BUFFALO, N.Y. — Employees of a Buffalo restaurant are launching a boycott against the business, claiming that the owners are punishing them for wanting to unionize.
Workers at Elmwood Taco & Subs say they have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. They have been protesting what they call an illegal union-busting campaign by the company.
The workers claim hours have been cut and that the owners have been demoting and disciplining the employees for their union activity.
State Senator Tim Kennedy recently announced that he is siding with the workers and calling out ETS ownership.
"All workers deserve to have their rights respected, including when they choose to unionize, and I'm deeply discouraged to hear that employees at ETS are being retaliated against simply for seeking protections and fair working conditions," Kennedy said in a statement on Thursday.
"I join them in boycotting ETS until management can come to the table in good faith and have an honest, productive dialogue."
Workers at ETS originally filed to unionize on Oct. 24 last year, then won the ensuing election on Nov. 28.
One of the union leaders and ETS employee, Abel Lopez, told 2 On Your Side back in November that she was proud of how the employees worked together.
“I’m so glad we made it this far and I’m so proud of my coworkers and our union. We will continue to stand up for what’s right and protect workers from unfair treatment,” Lopez said.
The Buffalo union has drawn support from other labor groups in the region.
“No company, no matter the size, should be allowed to flagrantly break the law and get away with it. We have offered many olive branches to the owners and management of ETS, and they continue to union-bust,” Gary Bonadonna Jr., manager of the Rochester regional joint board of Workers United, said in a statement.
“We want a collaborative relationship with ETS, and there is no reason that that can’t happen.”