EXCLUSIVE — A union representing service workers for the House of Representatives is suing Starbucks and Jimmy John’s vendors over a menu changeover that is leaving employees without jobs.
In a pair of suits reviewed by the Washington Examiner, Unite Here Local 23 is seeking relief for food staff whose employment is ending as the House overhauls its restaurant offerings. The lawsuits are not directed at Starbucks and Jimmy John’s but rather at two companies that have contracted to run the locations in the Longworth and Rayburn office buildings on their behalf.
The suits, filed before the District of Columbia’s civil courts division on July 18, allege that under D.C. law, the vendors are obligated to hire existing Dunkin’ and Subway employees from the restaurants they are replacing for 90 days and then offer them permanent employment if their job performance is “satisfactory.”
Local 23, which represents Sodexo employees whose contracts are ending under a larger reshuffling of House eateries, claims that jobs have not been offered to its members, naming three workers in its wrongful termination suits.
According to court documents, a hearing date for the defendants, Elite Retail Group and FCW Investments, has been set for Oct. 17. The Washington Examiner has contacted the defendants for comment.
The lawsuits coincide with a boycott announced this week alongside members of the Congressional Labor Caucus. Local 23 is asking lawmakers, staffers, and visitors not to frequent at least five vendors that will take over the current offerings in the coming weeks.
HOUSE GETS MENU MAKEOVER WITH LOCAL CHAINS AND FAN FAVORITES
Two of the vendors, Metz and TMCA, have agreed to hire a subset of the Sodexo workers, according to a union representative, but it is not yet clear how many of its nearly 200 House employees will retain their jobs.
In the suits, Local 23 claims that the Starbucks vendor has not offered a job to two Dunkin’ employees who submitted applications and that the Jimmy John’s operator allowed a Subway employee to interview, but at a separate franchise location.
