Brandworkers is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
organization of food factory workers building a union with the Industrial Workers of the World. Through co-workers uniting, food factory workers are organizing to win dignified jobs and build power across the industry. Based in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, Brandworkers was founded in 2007 by a group of retail and food employees engaged with
workers' rights
Labor rights or workers' rights are both legal rights and human rights relating to labor relations between workers and employers. These rights are codified in national and international labor and employment law. In general, ...
issues. Brandworkers trains workers in the use of
social change
Social change is the alteration of the social order of a society which may include changes in social institutions, social behaviours or social relations. Sustained at a larger scale, it may lead to social transformation or societal transformat ...
tools to achieve employer compliance with the law and improve working conditions.
Issues
Brandworkers campaigns and services are focused on the issues of
wage theft
Wage theft is the failing to pay wages or provide employee benefits owed to an employee by contract or law. It can be conducted by employers in various ways, among them are failing to pay overtime; violating minimum wage, minimum-wage laws; the m ...
, including minimum wage & overtime;
immigrant labor;
employment discrimination
Employment discrimination is a form of illegal discrimination in the workplace based on legally protected characteristics. In the U.S., federal anti-discrimination law prohibits discrimination by employers against employees based on age, race, ...
;
occupational health & safety;
workers compensation
Workers' compensation or workers' comp is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her emp ...
; and the
right to organize.
Campaigns
Brandworkers has assisted workers organizing against wage theft and discrimination at food manufacturing companies and warehouses, including campaigns at Wild Edibles, Pur Pac and Flaum Appetizing, winning a number of settlements over unpaid wages.
See also
*
The New York Foundation
*
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), whose members are nicknamed "Wobblies", is an international labor union founded in Chicago, United States in 1905. The nickname's origin is uncertain. Its ideology combines general unionism with indu ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Brandworkers Website
Workers' rights organizations based in the United States
Legal advocacy organizations in the United States
Community organizations
Trade unions affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World
Organizations established in 2007
Non-profit organizations based in New York City
Progressive International