NEW YORK — Employees at Breads Bakery, a well-known New York City chain famous for its babkas and pastries, say they are organizing a union, citing concerns over wages, workplace safety and broader disagreements with management over the company’s ties to Israel.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The group, calling itself Breaking Breads, is forming under United Auto Workers Local 2179. Union officials said more than 30% of eligible workers had signed authorization cards as of Tuesday, meeting the threshold needed to seek formal recognition. The effort would represent about 275 employees, including bakers, kitchen staff, cashiers, baristas, drivers and porters.
Organizers are asking the company to voluntarily recognize the union. If management declines, workers say they will petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the union said employees are seeking improved pay, safer working conditions and more predictable scheduling. The group also tied its labor campaign to political objections over Israel, saying it opposes what it described as the company’s support for Israeli causes.
View this post on Instagram
Among its demands, the union said it will not participate in projects such as baking goods featuring Israeli symbols and is calling for the company to end activities it links to the Israeli government.
Breads Bakery, a spinoff of a Tel Aviv-based brand, operates multiple locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The company’s leadership has not publicly responded to the union announcement.
Workers allege that despite annual revenues they estimate at more than $30 million, many employees earn between the city’s minimum wage and about $20 an hour, with inconsistent schedules. They also cited safety concerns, including an incident in 2024 in which a worker reportedly suffered a concussion after a locker fell in a staff area.
Union officials said the campaign would make Breaking Breads one of the largest craft bakery unions in New York City in decades.
A spokesperson for Breads Bakery did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Screw them all. Just close up shop. Rehire and reopen 2-3 months later with people that appreciate a job
Stupid mentally deficient goofs. Their hatred is what’s behind this any nothing else.
I hope the owner figures out a way to get to his product produced for him without these workers.
FIRE THEM ALL!
Jew hating scum, fire them all.
Fire them all!
Workers are ingrates
Stupid. If they don’t like it, they should leave & find another (better) job somewhere else.
I’m betting that their working conditions and salaries are better than anywhere else.
Boycott or retire for awhile and set up a pro Israel later. There are other bakeries to chose from.
we all need to band together and patronize this guy, day after day after day, and buy out his complete inventory, maybe even volunteer to man his store until he can find some appreciative employees to replace these ungrateful scum !
Non excusable and disgusting.
One thought: working at a Jewish nursing home – I see staff being mistreated – leading to anger anger against management to the point of mesirah.
People get very frustrated about as these: “ Workers allege that despite annual revenues they estimate at more than $30 million, many employees earn between the city’s minimum wage and about $20 an hour, with inconsistent schedules.”
Again – the ties between the company and Israel is not their business and their position is not justified and possibly antisemitic.
All I’m saying is- we need to be better at making our employees happy. I see this problem every day. Remember – a goy doesn’t have issues with nekama or hate
I guess I was too quick to judge the bakery. The upvotes from many – might share my dissatisfaction of employers – sometimes – rightfully deserved!
This a Jewish owned bakery that is brazenly mechalel Shabbos. Let them go under.