The Union is fighting for five main demands they want in their new contract with healthcare, improved wages and retirement benefits as the top priorities. Safety issues also have arisen that are causing new problems for workers following the pandemic, and employers haven’t implemented any improvement in worker protections. New technological developments are involved in everyday work by the members, and the union is seeking training and advance notice when new technology will become part of the day-to-day work. There has not been sufficient movement on these demands, which is why the Culinary Workers have voted to support a strike.
The purpose of the strike vote is to allow the lead negotiator, Pappageorge, in this case, to call for a strike if there are no movements in negotiations. While the strike isn’t what the members want, they are ready to do what it takes to get their contract demands. Pappageorge believes that the current momentum in the labor movement is on their side, whether they have to strike or not. With the unity of the labor movement, he believes that they will win massive improvements on their new contract.