One week ago, workers from Homegrown sandwich cafes and Homegrown’s wholesale production and distribution facilities delivered a majority petition calling on Homegrown to agree to a fair and quick process to decide whether to form a union without threats or intimidation. On Monday, Homegrown sent a communication only to the café workers, offering them a raise but refusing to acknowledge their request for a fair process to decide whether to form a union together with the workers who produce and distribute Homegrown’s wholesale product.

Homegrown store Shift Lead Russell says, “Even after working for Homegrown for 7 years, it’s not enough money. It means I have to work too much, and it takes away time from my family. As a father, time with my kids is the most important thing.”

Homegrown operates ten cafes across the Seattle area. The wholesale products, marketed under the brand’s Molly’s, Tosti, Bolt, and Shine, are sold at dozens of independent cafes and also at institutional cafeterias in hospitals and universities. Workers have started reaching out to customers at cafes and at the places where the wholesale sandwiches are sold, asking customers not to buy Molly’s, Tosti, Shine, or Bolt products until Homegrown respects the workers’ decision.

Homegrown brands itself as a sustainable sandwich shop, but the reality is that its own workers struggle to make ends in Seattle.

A union would bring workers respect on the job and wages and benefits that would make their jobs sustainable.

Sandwich workers refuse to be divided, but they need support from community and labor allies.