Tell Jimmy John’s that public shaming is unacceptable in any workplace

The Can't Survive on $7.35 campaign in St. Louis is keeping the pressure on.  This is part of the answer to the question, "How can workers organize unions in the 21st century?"
    

“Freaky fast, and polite.” 

That’s what Jimmy John’s says in their commercials, but the appalling way they act is far from it.  And I need your help to make it right.

Here’s what happened: One day during the busy lunch rush, I made 3 out of about 100 sandwiches wrong, and my co-worker took 13 seconds to get a drive through order out – 3 more seconds than the 10 we’re expected to meet. 

That's when Griff Pancake, our manager, humiliated us in front of our co-workers. He made us stand up in front of everyone holding signs that said “I made 3 wrong sandwiches today,” and “I was more than 13 seconds in drive thru,” while he took pictures. 

Griff was relocated to a different store after this story broke and we went on strike last week.  But that’s not enough.  Tell Jimmy John’s to reprimand him and tell all of their managers that this type of behavior is unacceptable - http://stlouis735.org/jimmy-johns/?utm_source=MOJWJ-JJ&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=STL735.

It's bad enough that Jimmy John’s doesn't pay us enough to cover rent or health insurance, but this kind of mistreatment has no place in any work environment.  Our fight, St. Louis Can’t Survive on $7.35, is about more than just being paid a living wage, it’s also about being able to form a union without retaliation so we can get the respect and dignity that all people – not just workers – deserve.  When we’re paid poverty wages it allows our managers and their corporate bosses to undervalue us, and it lets horrible things like public shaming happen. 

It won’t be easy to change things, but we've already started. People who work hard like me for minimum wage or barely more are standing up and saying ENOUGH. Just like we need to pay workers a living wage, we need to get rid of abusive managers like Griff Pancake who make our workplaces even worse.  Help us send that message to Jimmy John’s right now. 

We can, and we must, do better for the folks who work in fast food here in St. Louis.  I’m glad you’re standing with me and hope you’ll help us keep the momentum going today.  

Thanks,

Rasheen Aldridge
St. Louis Can’t Survive on $7.35