Employees of DC Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studio Vote to Unionize - Washingtonian

"“Unionization gives us a formal role in shaping policy and process,” the employees' organizing committee's members-who said staffers were inspired by similar efforts at Crumbs and Whiskers cat cafe in Georgetown and Aslin Beer Company -wrote in a statement. “As a small business without HR, we need a way to advocate for our needs.”"

"The workers say they're looking for higher base pay, paid sick leave, and options for health care coverage among other demands. At the moment, full-time employees in non-leadership positions make minimum wage and receive zero benefits, committee members say."

"Lewis says at least two people have been laid off since unionization efforts kicked off. Another employee was told they would not be guaranteed any hours after returning from their time-off request. One of them was part-time employee Abigail Gaudinier, who says she was laid off shortly after she shared a post on her public social media account in support of the union."

"“With respect to the recent staffing decisions, those decisions were based on legitimate business considerations and were unrelated to any employee's protected activity or views regarding unionization,” Winchell tells Washingtonian. “Because these involve individual personnel matters, we are limited in what we can publicly discuss, but we reject any suggestion that employment decisions were made in retaliation for lawful union activity.”"

Employees at the Cleveland Park paint-your-own pottery studio All Fired Up voted unanimously to unionize in a National Labor Relations Board election. The organizing effort began in early April and was motivated by similar unionization efforts at other local businesses. Unionization is described as providing a formal role in shaping workplace policy and process, especially for a small business without HR. Workers are seeking higher base pay, paid sick leave, and options for health care coverage. Current full-time non-leadership employees make minimum wage and receive no benefits. Organizers report layoffs and reduced hour guarantees after union activity. The owner opposed unionization but said the vote was fair, and stated staffing decisions were based on legitimate business considerations unrelated to protected union activity.

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