Union says restaurant group is blocking service staff from unionizing in DC
DC News Now
[{'start': '0.320', 'end': '4.640', 'text': 'In the district, a union representing'}, {'start': '2.399', 'end': '7.040', 'text': 'restaurant workers claims recent votes'}, {'start': '4.640', 'end': '8.559', 'text': 'unionized have not been recognized by a'}, {'start': '7.040', 'end': '10.800', 'text': 'popular restaurant group and their'}, {'start': '8.559', 'end': '12.639', 'text': 'allegation centers around star'}, {'start': '10.800', 'end': '14.799', 'text': 'restaurant group. Our Ben Dennis joins'}, {'start': '12.639', 'end': '16.560', 'text': 'us live where there was a picket line in'}, {'start': '14.799', 'end': '18.240', 'text': 'Northwest DC today. Yeah, and Ben,'}, {'start': '16.560', 'end': '22.680', 'text': 'several other restaurants owned by the'}, {'start': '18.240', 'end': '22.680', 'text': 'same group have also tried to unionize.'}, {'start': '22.800', 'end': '26.480', 'text': "That's right. The accidental restaurant"}, {'start': '24.560', 'end': '28.720', 'text': 'behind me near the White House served as'}, {'start': '26.480', 'end': '30.880', 'text': 'a backdrop today for this local union'}, {'start': '28.720', 'end': '33.600', 'text': 'that represents restaurant workers in'}, {'start': '30.880', 'end': '35.920', 'text': 'the DC area that they say have recently'}, {'start': '33.600', 'end': '38.480', 'text': 'voted to unionize, but the ownership has'}, {'start': '35.920', 'end': '40.160', 'text': 'not yet recognized. Now, their pressure'}, {'start': '38.480', 'end': '43.160', 'text': 'campaign has expanded to the picket'}, {'start': '40.160', 'end': '43.160', 'text': 'line.'}, {'start': '44.320', 'end': '49.840', 'text': 'Outside the famed Willard Hotel,'}, {'start': '47.420', 'end': '52.320', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '49.840', 'end': '55.199', 'text': 'no union contract is the message from'}, {'start': '52.320', 'end': '58.719', 'text': 'union local 25 at the recently reopened'}, {'start': '55.199', 'end': '61.280', 'text': 'accidental restaurant.'}, {'start': '58.719', 'end': '64.159', 'text': 'Local 25 represents service workers who'}, {'start': '61.280', 'end': '66.640', 'text': 'say recent votes to unionize at some of'}, {'start': '64.159', 'end': '69.040', 'text': 'the accidentals sister restaurants have'}, {'start': '66.640', 'end': '71.200', 'text': 'fallen on deaf ears by star restaurant'}, {'start': '69.040', 'end': '74.080', 'text': "group. Here's Amanda Gomez with Local"}, {'start': '71.200', 'end': '77.360', 'text': '25. workers have been intimidated, have'}, {'start': '74.080', 'end': '80.080', 'text': 'been bullied um because they are union'}, {'start': '77.360', 'end': '83.040', 'text': 'supporters. A super majority of workers'}, {'start': '80.080', 'end': '85.119', 'text': 'at Le Diplomat, St. Ansom, and Pastis'}, {'start': '83.040', 'end': '87.360', 'text': 'signed union authorization cards in'}, {'start': '85.119', 'end': '89.840', 'text': 'January. Several dozen union backers'}, {'start': '87.360', 'end': '91.759', 'text': 'expressed disdain with star restaurants,'}, {'start': '89.840', 'end': '94.840', 'text': 'alleging the company has made attempts'}, {'start': '91.759', 'end': '97.360', 'text': 'to rupture union efforts, known as union'}, {'start': '94.840', 'end': '99.280', 'text': 'busting. However, the union did not'}, {'start': '97.360', 'end': '101.520', 'text': 'immediately offer evidence to back those'}, {'start': '99.280', 'end': '103.360', 'text': "claims. We're fine the way we are. And"}, {'start': '101.520', 'end': '104.799', 'text': "Marie Henderson says she's a"}, {'start': '103.360', 'end': '107.200', 'text': 'receptionist working with the'}, {'start': '104.799', 'end': '109.040', 'text': 'restaurant. She stood alone outside the'}, {'start': '107.200', 'end': '111.040', 'text': 'accidental with a whiteboard claiming'}, {'start': '109.040', 'end': '114.240', 'text': 'that nobody on the picket line actually'}, {'start': '111.040', 'end': '117.920', 'text': "works there. We don't want a union. We"}, {'start': '114.240', 'end': '122.159', 'text': "are fine. We're not mistreated here."}, {'start': '117.920', 'end': '124.479', 'text': "It's not terrible work conditions. Um"}, {'start': '122.159', 'end': '125.840', 'text': "there's not a late paycheck. How many"}, {'start': '124.479', 'end': '128.239', 'text': 'employees of the accidental are'}, {'start': '125.840', 'end': '130.720', 'text': "picketing here today? Uh, I'm not going"}, {'start': '128.239', 'end': '133.680', 'text': 'to get into numbers because we know that'}, {'start': '130.720', 'end': '136.080', 'text': 'Star Restaurant Groups is surveilling'}, {'start': '133.680', 'end': '140.190', 'text': 'workers. Um, and so we are not going to'}, {'start': '136.080', 'end': '143.370', 'text': 'get into the exact numbers. James Sh.'}, {'start': '140.190', 'end': '143.370', 'text': '[Applause]'}, {'start': '143.680', 'end': '147.280', 'text': 'And I did reach out to Star Restaurants'}, {'start': '145.360', 'end': '148.879', 'text': "ahead of today's plan. Protest on the"}, {'start': '147.280', 'end': '150.560', 'text': 'picket line to get their side of the'}, {'start': '148.879', 'end': '152.959', 'text': 'story. They have yet to respond to our'}, {'start': '150.560', 'end': '156.080', 'text': 'request for comment in downtown DC. Ben'}, {'start': '152.959', 'end': '156.080', 'text': 'Dennis, back to you.'}]