Worker-led Organizing

 

Our Vision

One dignified, family supporting employment standard for workers in the local food industry, maintained and enhanced by the agency of rank and file workers.

“By standing together, by rising up to demand immigrant worker protections at Tom Cat Bakery, we’re taking a stand—not just for ourselves, or for our own families, but for millions of immigrants in America striving for a better life. We will not back down.”

Oscar Ramirez

Brandworkers member

Local Food Manufacturing in New York:

Opportunity at Risk
With 35,000 workers, NYC’s local food industry brings $5 billion to our communities. But, our communities can’t afford the risks of a business model built on exploitation.
Wage Exploitation

Local food workers face long hours with low pay - 48 hours per week on average.

Risk to Health & Safety

%

workers report an injury on the job

Exploitation of Immigrant Workers

Undocumented workers are paid $7.52 an hour less than their coworkers.

Gendered Exploitation

Women are paid 60 cents on the dollar compared to men

Brandworkers Solution:

Worker Power Transforms the Local Food Industry
Brandworkers members are forging a new kind of organization to restore power to workers. Workers themselves are best-positioned and uniquely capable to liberate themselves and transform our local food system.
Member-led Organizing
Members develop their leadership by making decisions at every stage and level of the campaign.
Direct Action
Direct action is the most powerful way for workers to lead their struggle directly.
Solidarity
Brandworkers allies accompany members in struggle, supporting worker leadership as we journey together toward a just food system and a new form of worker organization.

Brandworkers Updates

Free Workshop: Organize Your Workplace for Safety During COVID

On September 16, Brandworkers contributed to teaching a workshop hosted by the Ocasio-Cortez team on how to organize your co-workers to make the workplace safer during COVID-19 along with Labor Notes and the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee.  Watch the...

Victory with the fundraiser for Tom Cat Bakery campaign leaders!

With your help, we were able to raise over $20,000 in direct mutual aid funds. Thank you all for your support!

We Survived an ICE Audit, Help Us Get Through This Pandemic

[English below] Hola a todos, Espero que se encuentren bien. Estamos pidiendo su ayuda hoy en día para un recaudo de fondos para nuestras familias y nosotros quienes hemos estado luchando contra Tom Cat estos años. Desde que empezó la pandemia muchos de nosotros nos...

Register to hear lifelong Black liberation worker leader in conversation with Brandworkers’ Executive Director

As a new generation rises up for Black life and the movement extends into the workplace, Ed Wells’ story of struggle and hard-earned wisdom needs to be heard. Ed Wells is a movement elder with fifty years of service as a rank & file labor leader and Black...

Brandworkers Statement on Coronavirus

Brandworkers Statement on Coronavirus Local food manufacturing workers are sustaining us through this crisis and they deserve support more than ever before. As people across New York City stock up on the food they’ll need to sustain their families through this crisis,...

Preparing for ICE Workplace Audits: An Organizing Approach | Preparación para Auditorías de ICE en el Lugar de Trabajo: Un Enfoque Organizativo

Preparing for ICE Workplace Audits: An Organizing Approach | Preparación para Auditorías de ICE en el Lugar de Trabajo: Un Enfoque Organizativo Click here for additional resources!  ¡Haga clic aquí para obtener recursos adicionales! Have questions? ¿Tienes preguntas?...

Amy’s Bread Workers Achieve Recognition at the Museum of the City of New York

Amy’s Bread CEO breaks her silence by adding classic anti-worker messaging to round out the exhibit. The voice of Amy’s Bread workers has been heard! Visitors to the Museum of the City of New York spotted quite a mismatch: an Amy's Bread cafe right next to the "City...

Remembering Juan Baten as we organize for safe, dignified jobs

Honor Juan Baten’s life by volunteering to support food factory workers organizing for safe, dignified jobs.

A sustainable Brandworkers ready for its next staff leader

*English below* Una comunidad sustentable lista para acoger a su nuevo líder Estimada comunidad Brandworkers, El próximo año cumpliré catorce años como fundador y director de Brandworkers. Después de obtener la aprobación de los dirigentes y miembros de nuestra...

Call now: Amy’s Bread respect worker organizing

Make a call to Amy’s Bread in solidarity with workers!

Brandworkers in the News

Our Foundation Partners

We’re located at:

43-32 22nd St. Suite 202

Long Island City, NY 11101

Phone:

(646) 568-5870

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1257

Long Island City, NY 11101

Brandworkers Office

43-32 22nd St. Suite 202