Chipotle union files labor board complaint after restaurant shuts down

A union pushing to manage personnel at Chipotle Mexican Grill has filed a complaint with the Nationwide Labor Relations Board soon after the burrito chain reported it would completely shut a area that was trying to get to unionize.

In late June, an Augusta, Maine, Chipotle restaurant turned the chain’s initially outlet to file for a union election, in search of to manage less than Chipotle United, which is not affiliated with any more substantial unions. The petition arrived just after workforce walked out of the cafe before in the month in protest of working situations and understaffing.

Chipotle said the location has been closed to the public considering the fact that June 17. Spokesperson Laurie Schalow denied that the long lasting closure of the cafe was because of to the union petition. Instead, she claimed the business was not able to present sufficient staffing for the location.

“Our operational management reviewed this condition as it would any other restaurant with these distinctive staffing challenges. Chipotle respects our employees’ rights to organize below the Nationwide Labor Relations Act,” Schalow reported in a assertion to CNBC.

But Chipotle United staff looking for to manage experience the go is retaliatory and held a rally on Tuesday evening to protest the store’s closure. Organizer Brandi McNease explained to CNBC the closure will only energize efforts.

“All they are carrying out is fueling us,” McNease explained.

McNease explained Chipotle United, which filed its criticism Tuesday, is generally worried with crew basic safety, food security and brief staffing.

Jeffrey Neil Youthful, the attorney representing Chipotle United, informed CNBC this is “union-busting 101.”

“The closing was focused not just at the Maine staff, but at Chipotle workers all around the country who are considering forming a union. Arranging drives are currently underway in Michigan, New York, and somewhere else. Closing the store signals to other Chipotle employees that if they arrange, they could be out of a occupation,” Young reported in a published assertion. He included that the union has questioned the NLRB to seek out an injunction to compel Chipotle to reopen the store and fork out the workers back shell out until finally the shop reopens.

Workforce at a 2nd Chipotle outlet submitted for a union election in early July. Staff in that cafe, which is positioned in Lansing, Michigan, are searching for to unionize less than the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters.