Shop Talk

Is a union on the menu at Jimmy John’s?

Workers at 10 Jimmy John’s sandwich restaurants in Minneapolis could make history this month — if they say “yes” to union representation.

The National Labor Relations Board on Oct. 22 will oversee a secret ballot election for 200 Jimmy John’s workers in the city. If a majority of them approve, it would be a first for the U.S. fast-food industry and the company would be legally bound to negotiate with a bargaining team elected by employees.

“People say fast food is unorganizable. We say failure is not an option,” said Jaim’ee Bolte, a union member. “It’s time for change in America, we hope this will be a turning point for all workers.”

Food preparation and service jobs are among the fastest-growing occupations in the United States, but they typically offer part-time hours, limited or no benefits and pay roughly on par with minimum wage. Employee turnover is high and many fast-food workers are teenagers and young adults.   

“If these are the kinds of jobs that American workers will be stuck with, then we are going to make them quality jobs for working families,” said union member Mike Wilkow.

Workers previously told Reuters that they formed the Jimmy Johns Workers Union to combat minimum-wage pay and a lack of sick days. The union is affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World.

(Photo: Jimmy Johns Workers Union)

Check Out Line: June jobs data disappoint

Check out the latest batch of grim data about the U.S. job market.

U.S. employment fell for the first time this year in June, renewing concerns about the strength of the U.S. economic recovery.

Weaker-than-expected private hiring and the end of thousands of temporary census jobs translated into a decline of 125,000 nonfarm payrolls, their largest fall since last October.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected employment to fall 110,000 last month.

Private employment, often regarded as a better gauge of labor market health, rose only 83,000 in June, below market expectations for a 112,000 gain.

Retailers, wrestling with high labor costs and cautious American consumers, also seem to be playing safe while seeking new employees. Retail hiring fell 6,600 in June.

Also in the basket: Blockbuster wins debt reprieve, forced to delist

Check Out Line: Job cuts galore

Check out the disappearing jobs.   Job cuts in November soared to their highest monthly level since 1992, according to outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas.   A total of 181,671 job cuts were announced in the month, 61 percent more than in October, the firm said.   Employers have now announced 1,057,645 job cuts in 2008, just shy of the 1,072,054 layoffs announced in 2005, which was the last time that annual job cuts surpassed 1 million, Challenger said.   The financial sector was the biggest culprit, led by Citigroup’s plan to cut more than 50,000 jobs.   But job cuts are happening all over and retail lost another 11,000 jobs last month.   Things are also likely to get worse in the job market. December is typically one of the larger job-cutting months of the year, CEO John Challenger noted.   Also in the basket:   Crocs and Skechers settle patent suit   US retail tracker slashes holiday forecast   Shalom, Christmas Shoppers: Israelis Sell Cosmetics, Toys at the Mall (WSJ)   (Reuters photo)