Members of UFCW Local 227 who work at Feast BBQ and Royals Hot Chicken in Louisville, Ky., ratified their first union contracts on July 21 and 22. Feast BBQ and Royals Hot Chicken are owned by the Kentucky-based restaurant group Eternal Optimist Hospitality, and the workers are employed in a variety of front and back of house service crew positions at the restaurants ranging from waiters to cooks.
They joined our union because they were concerned about insufficient wages and benefits and the first contracts address those issues.
The three-year contracts include immediate wages increases (an additional $1.00 per hour immediate increase) and guaranteed wage increases during each year of the agreement. The contracts also maintain affordable health insurance and create a grievance process for the workers.
“It was a long process,” said Jakob Sawyer, who works at Feast BBQ and served as a member of the bargaining committee. “Things were quite tough at times. But finally reaching this goal is incredibly rewarding. I’m so proud of the work we’ve all done to get here and I would do it all again a hundred times if it means a better, more just work environment for my fellow workers.”
“While the process was long, it was well worth it to finally feel heard and to have our union looking out for us,” said David Capeheart, who works at Royals Hot Chicken and served as a member of the bargaining committee.
“Feast BBQ and Royals Hot Chicken workers made history in Louisville by becoming some of the first unionized restaurant workers in our city,” said UFCW 227 President Bob Blair. “For over a year, these workers stood together to demand better for themselves and their industry. We are grateful that they chose UFCW 227 as their union and we are excited to build a better future for restaurant workers in Kentucky.”