Overview
- The Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop in San Francisco began a three-day strike on Thursday and closed its flagship storefront while picketers asked customers not to cross the line.
- Unite Here Local 2 says the dispute centers on a 6% surcharge charged to customers and the company’s refusal to disclose how much that fee generates or how the money is spent.
- The union alleges Ghirardelli proposed an alternative health plan that would cut coverage and raise co-pays, which workers say could leave them facing much higher out-of-pocket bills for serious care.
- Negotiations have stretched for more than a year without a new contract, and Ghirardelli issued a statement saying it values employees and is committed to bargaining in good faith.
- San Francisco rules require businesses that link a surcharge to the city’s health ordinance to report how much the fee raised and how it was spent, a requirement that fuels the union’s demand for transparency and could influence the outcome of talks.