Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches, a Seattle-based chain, was founded with the mission of creating a more sustainable food system; however, as one former employee tells TRNN, Homegrown’s business model is “not actually sustainable for their workers.” Workers at Homegrown voted overwhelmingly to unionize with UNITE HERE LOCAL 8 in late 2022, and they have been fighting for a first contract ever since. In fact, workers from two Homegrown stores have been on strike since late last fall in protest of the unfair termination of union leader Sydney Lankford, who was fired after speaking up at a union delegation. As of this week, workers at the Redmond Homegrown location have been on strike for over 100 days. We talk with Sydney Lankford and Perry, two members of the Homegrown workers union who are currently on strike.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The heat pay contract provision referenced in this conversation would guarantee time-and-a-half pay for workers if and when the in-store temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit, not 84.

Additional links/info below…

• Homegrown workers union Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X page
• Homegrown Sustainable Sandwiches Contact Us page
• PETITION: Tell Homegrown to #Bring Syd Back!
• STRIKE FUND: Support Striking Homegrown Workers! #BringSydBack
• Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) website
• Renata Geraldo, Seattle Times, "Seattle’s Homegrown Cafe Workers Vote to Unionize"
• KIRO 7, "Workers at Redmond’s Homegrown Sandwich Shop Strike Over ‘Unfair’ Firing of Union Leader"

Permanent links below...

• Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show!
• Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page
• In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page
• The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebookpage, and Twitter page

Featured Music...Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song

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