Amy’s Kitchen faces boycott threat after workers allege mistreatment

Amy’s Kitchen constructed its brand as a purveyor of organic and natural, healthful organized foodstuff by preaching “goodness.” Now the enterprise is coming underneath fireplace immediately after personnel at one particular of its crops accused the business of mistreatment, including inadequate breaks, a lack of ingesting water and managers stopping persons from working with the toilet.

Amy’s Kitchen area co-founder Andy Berliner denied the allegations in an Instagram put up in March, noting that the enterprise presents a number of h2o stations in the plant and scheduled toilet breaks, as nicely as will allow personnel to just take breaks when they need them. But the allegations have led some grocery stores to drop the brand, this kind of as Oakland, California-based mostly Mandela Grocery, though some individuals are vowing to boycott it.

The allegations had been thorough in a complaint resolved to the California Occupational Security and Overall health Administration (Cal/OSHA) and shared with CBS MoneyWatch by a union doing the job with Amy’s Kitchen workers. 

In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, Amy’s Kitchen stated the complaint “is filled with untruths.” It also claimed that Cal/OSHA informed the business it was unaware that a grievance had been filed versus Amy’s Kitchen area. Cal/OSHA did not quickly return a request for comment.

The backlash dealing with Amy’s Kitchen comes as additional U.S. personnel press for better procedure, gains and shell out. But it could strike some as incongruous that a brand name known for building organic bean burritos and gluten-no cost macaroni and cheese — as perfectly as for its commitments to employing non-GMO components and providing on-web site staff wellbeing centers — would be accused of mistreating its staff members. 

“It is not unusual for staff to expertise long-term back again pain and accidents, shed limbs and other serious accidents as a final result of the unsafe functioning conditions,” the criticism alleged. “Workers are routinely despatched to the onsite clinic just after significant injuries, only to be explained to to return again to operate devoid of enough recovery time.”

“With out speedy motion, employees will keep on to get injured and/or possibly killed,” the complaint mentioned.

The criticism was published by Tony Delorio, principal officer at Teamsters Regional Union No. 665, on behalf of Amy’s Kitchen area employee Cecilia Luna, who is employed at the company’s Santa Rosa, California, plant. Delorio stated in the document that the staff are non-unionized but that there is an “energetic arranging campaign” with Teamsters Nearby 665. 

“I have advised every a single of our workers who has questioned, that unionization is their choice — no matter whether of course or no,” he wrote in the Instagram article. “And what was resoundingly very clear is that our workforce are not inquiring for boycotts and in point are saddened and afraid by this adverse campaign led by a union.”

10-12 burritos per moment

The criticism alleges that Amy’s Kitchen employees are pushed to do the job at speeds that can lead to personal injury, with expectations that workers in the burrito line roll 10 to 12 burritos for each moment. It also alleges that for the reason that of understaffing, personnel who ordinarily assemble 66 plates for every moment now are occasionally envisioned to assemble up to 72 plates per minute. 

“Inspite of speedy pace and significant quotas, employees are not presented sufficient breaks or chances to transform tasks inside the traces to stay away from repetitive motion injuries,” the criticism claims. “Workers are usually not allowed to use the restroom managers assert line speeds would be impacted when somebody wants to step away to use the toilet.”

Amy’s Kitchen senior director of sustainability, Paul Schiefer, claimed in the company’s statement that its Santa Rosa facility, which employs about 500 employees, “lately recorded a protection file that is two moments better than the industry average.”

Schiefer added that Amy’s Kitchen is knowledgeable of interest from unions to organize the plant, but that the corporation prefers “to keep a direct romantic relationship with our staff members — several of whom have labored at Amy’s for additional than two a long time.”

In the meantime, some shoppers are vowing to boycott the manufacturer, at least until finally the concern is fixed. 

“We like your products and solutions but right until you can give your workforce safe and sound performing situations we will be boycotting and I will be sharing this with loved ones and good friends,” one particular consumer wrote in reaction to Berliner’s Instagram publish. “What a disappointment.”