Nearly 90 workers at Craig’s Cookies in Toronto have chosen to unionize as the Canadian company continues its national expansion. Following a two-week organizing effort that began in early December, over 85 employees voted to join Unite HERE Local 75, a union representing workers in the food service and hospitality sectors. These employees are spread across five Craig’s Cookies locations in Toronto, including East York, Church-Wellesley, Leslieville, Parkdale, and Union Station.
Daniel Janvier, a researcher at Unite HERE Local 75, who assisted in the organizing campaign, mentioned that the main trigger for the workers was the elimination of paid breaks. He highlighted concerns about stagnant wages compared to inflation and the broader food service industry standards.
The company’s spokesperson expressed respect for the workers’ decision to unionize and assured collaboration with the union in good faith. Craig’s Cookies emphasized its commitment to competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and equitable treatment of its team members. The spokesperson did not provide additional comments regarding the allegation of discontinuing paid breaks.
Craig’s Cookies, founded by Craig Pike in 2013 as a home baking venture, transitioned to brick-and-mortar stores in 2018. With 22 outlets across Canada, primarily in Ontario and with a presence in Calgary and St. John’s, the chain is set to open its 23rd store in Halifax soon.
Experts view the move towards unionization by Craig’s Cookies workers as significant for the Canadian food services industry. Rafael Gomez, from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, highlighted the challenges faced by growing businesses without robust HR structures and the attractiveness of collective agreements in such scenarios.
Despite a decline in unionization rates in Canada over the years, especially in the private sector, the unionization of Craig’s Cookies employees stands out in an industry where only a small percentage of workers are typically unionized.