On February 3, staff across the nation known as out of their jobs to take part in a Day With out Immigrants, a protest in opposition to the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant insurance policies. Some eating places and different companies closed for the day, whereas others operated with a smaller crew so workers might take part. In Dripping Springs, about 45 minutes outdoors of Austin, the employees on the family-friendly burger chain Hat Creek Burger Firm, which is thought for its hamburger menu in addition to its giant playgrounds for kids, had a distinct expertise.
A report within the Austin Chronicle says that an unnamed supervisor fired eight workers at this location who stated they’d be lacking work for the protest. That tally consists of assistant supervisor Francisco Perez, who did present up for work however was let go beneath allegations, which he denies, that he inspired workers to overlook their shifts to take part. Perez stated that the supervisor requested a listing of workers who deliberate to not be at work and that workers had been instructed they’d not be paid for the day, with no different punishment. After receiving the listing, the supervisor texted the staff to inform them February 3 can be a crew appreciation day and provided a free meal and a $25 Amazon present card to workers who got here to work, stated Perez.
One other worker, Gudelia Calderon, instructed the Chronicle that her supervisor stated she can be written up for lacking work. As an alternative, everybody who missed the day was fired.
This protest is held at a time when immigrant staff face mounting challenges to employment, together with the elevated use of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies’ (USCIS) E-Confirm to verify employment eligibility, threats of ICE raids, and dealing beneath employers who counsel they carry their documentation on their individuals in any respect time as a response to the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigrant staff. Of the 8 million undocumented staff in America, 1,000,000 are estimated to work at eating places.
A spokesperson for Hat Creek stated in an announcement over e-mail: “As an Austin-based, founder-led firm, Hat Creek Burger Firm prides itself on offering nice burgers and a family-friendly atmosphere to the area people. Simply as we have a good time the variety of our company, crew members and communities, we honor our commitments to serve them. To that finish, the current terminations had been solely the results of deviations from our long-standing attendance coverage, requiring advance discover for time-off, and associated insurance policies. We pleasure ourselves on supporting our groups and their rights to specific themselves, like every group, and try day-after-day to create an environment the place everyone seems to be revered and welcome.”
When requested for clarification, a consultant stated that workers are required to request break day “previous to the posting of that retailer’s schedule, which typically occurs about 10 days upfront.”
Perez tells the Chronicle that whereas he didn’t agree that Hat Creek ought to have to shut for the day to help the protests, he does really feel that administration ought to have been clear that the implications of lacking work that day can be termination.
Replace: February 14, 2024, 2:55: This story was up to date so as to add an announcement from Hat Creek Burger Firm and clarification of the corporate insurance policies for break day requests.
