Greensboro responds to firing with a sit-in
Wendy's worker fired for union organizing
Our inspirational story of the week goes to fast food workers in the Fight for $15 and their community supporters in Greensboro who answered workplace injustice in a very-Greensboro way.
Triad City Beat covered what happened after Wendy's retaliated against their employee Crystal Price for standing up for higher wages and the right to form a union:
Price initially began organizing last year because she couldn't take it anymore.
“We just got a new general manager and her first day she actually stood behind me clapping in my ear saying, ‘Hurry, hurry, hurry, seven-second burgers,” Price said, adding that it takes about twice as long. Nobody deserves to be treated that way, as less than human, she said, and it pushed her over the edge.
First Wendy’s cut her hours, Price said, and then told her she couldn't discuss anything other than official business at work. Price started being written up for small things, such as alleged issues with her uniform, and Price knew why. But she kept organizing, and eventually filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging retaliation for organizing, which is illegal.
The same day Price learned that the board found merit to her claim, Wendy's fired her, she said.
"If I stop now it would be sending a message that says ‘Give up,' and I can't give that message to my kids. I’m gonna keep going."