Oregon restaurant employees vote to become nation's first fast food union
A fast food restaurant in Oregon became the first of its kind Monday, becoming the only fast food union with formal recognition in the U.S.
According to the , workers at the southeast Portland Burgerville, a restaurant chain with locations in Oregon and Washington, voted 18-4 in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board to unionize Monday.
Members of the Burgerville Workers Union had been campaigning for over two years to receive recognition from management.
Since February, the union group called on customers to boycott the restaurant, with the hope of negotiating a raise of $5 an hour for hourly employees, along with consistent scheduling, child care and affordable healthcare.
"Our employees have spoken, we hear them, and we support their decision," said Burgerville senior VP of operations Beth Brewer. "We will navigate this new working relationship together in a positive, productive way and bargain in good faith with the union."
Last week, employees at another Burgerville in Portland also filed for an election with the NLRB, but their request is still pending.