Fier-era to be part of a union singing: the struggle to Ellen & rsquo; s Stardust Diner

The Ellen’s Stardust Diner is a New York institution, a place or Broadway actors and actresses do not wait table, but there singing songs of their shows when there are them. It is also a place or there is currently an ongoing labor dispute that has seen mass removals, strikes, demonstrations and picket lines that returned Morning food deliveries.

The employees of Ellen's were organized with the IWW-es for much of the past year. their union, Stardust Family United, came out in the streets, raising their voices and raising their fists to defend and improve their working conditions.

Several Stardusters worked at the restaurant from time to time over the years. According to them, Ellen's was a really nice place to work. Managers were accommodants when it came time to leave for a show. And despite the large number of waiters and waitresses taking off for the stage, Ellen's was a tight knit community. It was a place or workers developed their talent and was building friendships that crossed years.

All it would change last year when the new administration was introduced.

The art manager stopped being accommodative when Fri.has time to take leave. Workers denouncing security problems or complained of sexual harassment were ignored or es, even worse, returned es restaurant. Workers longtime, including some who had multiple-es many years of service to double digit, were returned es without recognition of their services.

So the idea came to form a union. Workers have contacted some local unions and the IWW New York proved most receptive, quickly arranging training d & rsquo; organization for employees of Stardust. Workers found solidarity unionism model of the IWW, which focuses on the basic control and direct action approach to organize, as a model of solidarity that had already established them in their workplace.

For some time, the organization took place under the radar. Problems relating to health and safety were raised and workers used the internal communication system to pressure management. He and they also organized a " march on the boss "To get back their tip seal and it was after this action and that they decided to come out publicly as a union. The spot where he chose them to do so : The New York Times.

Workers do not have vote for the election a labor council, rather asking the owner, Ken Sturm, to negotiate directly with them and they.

In the beginning, Executive suggested that & rsquo; ele would cooperative. But it did not last. Shortly after the union came out publicly, Sturm has hired a syndicate of dismantling firm and invented reasons to return more 15 Employees suspected es to be leaders that led to the union launched.

Workers responded with a chant strike (a singing strike), refusing to perform during their shifts.

Then something remarkable happened; the restaurant was closed for the day. nor 11 September, nor the passage of Hurricane Sandy had successfully forced the bosses of Ellen's closing, but workers have shown that remaining silent Artists-only, it them had the power to stop it in restaurant.

Following the recent layoffs, countryside really began to heat up. The workers have gathered new and new employees to rebuild the number of union members. He them have successfully defend against their employer attempts to learn new songs on their own personal time. He had obtained them from the administration, a return to an appropriate level of staff. An unstable part of the scene involving injury was finally replaced.

Some months later, Ken Sturm has engaged in another round of illegal mass dismissals. When clast ette, sure 70 servers and serveuses which were employees at the time of formation of the union, half were returned es. Again, some-es worked there for over 6 years, even talk of 20 some years to es. The National Labor Relations Board declined following a request of the union for an injunction.

References n 'however not stopped the campaign. It was after all these references that Stardusters staged their most radical action : a twelve-hour strike during the "rush" Friday night.

In an action separate working, workers refused es to be filmed by a Brazilian film crew who had entered a sort of deal with the administration. He them spontaneously created a petition and presented it to the management on the floor, who was forced to fold it.

some participant es when these actions were working the restaurant for only a few weeks. All this is a testimony to the success that the workers have managed to build in the restaurant to stand up for oneself and for others.

Workers were beaten es ardently with actions including staff who had been sent : weekly musical events, a "sip-in" (Action in which supporters of union present at the restaurant and leave a great tip without buying anything), « phone and Facebook blasts », and target other businesses associated with owner Ken Sturm.

At a certain point, l’administration a even brought in outside musicians to try to drown the sounds of Saturday night pickets. However, it was discovered that those it was union members who born musician, after a discreet word, es have joined for a few protest songs and soon after left. L’administration n'a not tried this tactic again from.

It was recently Stardust seen staff return deliveries with their musical picketse.

behind them regular action at work, the “Stardust Family United” regularly holds a fundraiser "Stardust after dark" and launched its own page Facebook and his site web. Its members are also related to d & rsquo; other employees of the restaurant are afillié to & rsquo; IWW, in building especially a relationship with " Burgerville Worker Union »Portland.

The campagne a motherme his propre theme song, written by an-e member de la “Stardust Family United” and recently taken by Tom Morello as a tribute to the dedication and creativity of workers of Stardust.

Stardust workers that include them are taken, are in a long process , despite the answers illegales and draconian Administration, He them are determined es to continue fighting and continue singing until them earn.

 

For more information, check out the link below. If you go through the city of New York, take a look at them page Facebook for events and fundraising events. If you are outside, If you-please consider making a donation :https://www.youcaring.com/stardust-family-united-634720/donate?utm_source=widget#wp

A dozen workers and workers have so far have was sent-es and New York is an expensive city, all you can give would be greatly appreciated assistance. in parallel, why your union local branches or political groups do not would organize a fundraiser to support these inspiring es workers ?