SAN FRANCISCO — Members of UNITE HERE Local 2 are fighting on several fronts in the San Francisco Bay Area. More than two dozen members of the union and their supporters leafleted around Ghirardelli Square here Sept. 16 to win support for their fight for a contract at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Handing out a flyer titled “Greedy Ghirardelli,” the unionists explained to tourists and others that the workers at the well-known sweets eatery haven’t had a new contract since 2023.
The unionists held a three-day strike in July, picketing in front of the store, which received substantial local news coverage.
Chanting “Who always wins? Local 2!” several dozen workers also picketed in front of the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville the day before, demanding a contract on par with nearby hotels owned by the same company. There have been several recent actions by room cleaners, restaurant and maintenance workers from the hotel, joined by union members from several area hotels. Three police squad cars were dispatched to the hotel, but after union leaders spoke with them, the cops left without incident.
In Berkeley, workers at the Graduate Hotel voted 96% for representation by Local 2 in July, after holding an informational picket and winning solidarity from area unionists, as well as University of California students and local politicians.