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San Anselmo cook says employer refuses to recognize union amid federal labor complaint
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Summary
Ana Reyes, a cook at San Anselmo in Washington, D.C., said workers won a union nearly a year ago but that the restaurant group owned by Steven Star has refused to recognize it; she said the National Labor Relations authorities have accused the employer of violating federal labor law and workers have been picketing in multiple cities.
Ana Reyes, a cook at San Anselmo in Washington, D.C., told a public comment forum that she and her coworkers won a union election nearly a year ago but the restaurant group owned by Steven Star has refused to recognize the result.
"Hace casi un año atrás, mis compañeros y yo ganamos nuestra unión. Estar todavía se niega a reconocerlo," Reyes said in Spanish, adding in English that workers ‘‘will keep fighting until we get raises, health insurance and the respect we deserve.’’ She identified herself as a cook at San Anselmo.
Reyes said the refusal to recognize the union has persisted even as the company opened new restaurants and the federal government has accused the employer of violating federal labor law. "El gobierno está acusando a [la empresa] de violar la ley laboral federal, pero [la empresa] eligió continuar la batalla legal," she said.
She described broader organizing activity across other restaurants in the group and said language discrimination in the kitchen—Spanish-speaking workers being pressured to learn English rather than accommodated—was a factor in organizing. "Ayudé a organizar la unión en Anselmo debido a la falta de respeto que nos hacían a los que hablamos español en la cocina," Reyes said.
Reyes said workers have faced economic strain during the dispute, including moving into smaller housing while the company expands. She also described sustained picketing: "hemos estado participando en piquete... viajando a Philadelphia, a Nueva York, para mostrar a [la empresa] que somos serios."
She urged stronger penalties for violations of federal labor law and said employers should not be allowed to block union recognition without consequence. "Debería haber sanciones más estrictas para la ley laboral. No deje a los empleadores de oponer a los sindicatos," she said.
The remarks in the transcript are a first-person account from Reyes; the transcript does not record a response from the employer or additional officials, and it does not provide details of any court filing or the precise federal charges. The government accusation Reyes referenced is described in her remarks as an action by "el gobierno" (the government) and is not elaborated in the transcript with statute names or case numbers.
Reyes closed by saying the effort would continue until workers secure the pay and benefits they seek. "No ha sido fácil, pero seguiremos luchando hasta conseguir los aumentos, el seguro médico y el respeto que merecemos," she said, ending with the chant "Sí se puede."
