Workers at Israeli-owned New York bakery demand end to company 'support for genocide'
Workers from Breads Bakery, a prominent New York City bakery, announced their unionisation last week, calling for an end to the company’s “support of the genocide happening in Palestine,” and demanding better working conditions.
The Israeli-owned chain has six locations across New York City, employing around 275 workers.
The statement from the Breaking Breads Union announced that over 30 percent of workers have signed authorisation cards with UAW Local 2179, a labour organisation that represents over 1000 workers in the New York and New Jersey area.
In the announcement, which was first delivered as a speech to the company’s CEO at the bakery’s flagship location, union organisers decried the bakery’s “implicit and explicit” support for Israel.
“We see our struggles for fair pay, respect, and safety as connected to struggles against genocide and forces of exploitation around the world.”
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Middle East Eye reached out to Breaking Breads Union organisers, but they were unable to immediately comment at the time.
According to Haaretz, union organisers announced on Tuesday their refusal to bake cookies featuring the Israeli flag, and participate in catering for food festivals like the Great Nosh, which “are connected to organisations that donate millions each year to the IDF”.
The Haaretz report also mentioned that Breads Bakery had baked specific goods to fundraise for Israeli organisations in October 2023.
In addition to raising the bakery’s ties to Israel, the Breaking Breads union declaration also enumerated a number of workplace violations including discrimination, hazardous conditions, and unfair payment policies.
Organisers also accused the company of union-busting, “having illegally fired at least one worker for trying to unionise”.
Breaking Breads Union has called on the company to voluntarily recognise the union in order to enter negotiations. It said refusal to recognise the union would constitute an unfair labour practice under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which could lead to legal escalation in front of the National Labor Relations Board.
Breads Bakery did not respond to Middle East Eye’s request for comment.
The unionisation announcement generated outcry from a number of Zionist organisations and social media users in New York City, including Betar Worldwide, a far-right Zionist movement that has gained attention for doxxing and demanding the deportation of pro-Palestine activists.
Some social media users publicised an “Action Alert” calling on people to buy from the bakery on Friday, in protest against the workers’ unionisation efforts.
Breaking Breads Union posted its announcement alongside UAW Labor for Palestine, a coalition of UAW chapters that have urged the endorsement of the Palestinian civil society-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions call.
Established during the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, UAW Labor for Palestine follows the “call by Palestinian Trade Unionists’ to end complicity in their oppression.”
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