NYC Restaurant Workers Win Unionization Concession at Golden Bridge

June 8, 2006
Mike Liu

Chinese workers won a recent unionization victory at the Golden Bridge restaurant on the Bowery. The National Labor Relations Board arbitrated an agreement where the Golden Bridge will hire union members of the 318 Restaurant Workers Union (318 RWU), an independent union. They will also compensate them for lost wages since the restaurant's opening.

The members of RWU have been picketing for a year and a half in front Golden Bridge asking her to be hired. It has been a difficult campaign between a wealthy business owner and the 318 RWU, including intimidation.

Organizers at the RWU claim that such victories also forcing larger restaurants in New York Chinatown to observe 40 hour work weeks for their workers, where they had worked up to 70 hours a week previously. The independent union was formed by the Chinese Workers and Staff Association. Mainline unions have generally avoided organizing restaurant workers because of the difficulties involved.

Golden Bridge Hired Unionized Workers for Dim Sum Service