Workers at Homegrown Sandwich Chain Condemn Store Closures, Imminent Layoffs

by Soumya Gupta

On Thursday, July 25, workers from Homegrown sandwich shops across the Seattle area hosted a press conference to protest the company's decision to shut down 10 stores statewide and lay off approximately 150 employees starting Sept. 15. The action followed a July 18 email to all employees from Homegrown CEO Brad Gillis announcing the closures, layoffs, and the termination of contracts in September.

The Seattle-based sandwich and salad chain has received frequent backlash from workers, who complained that layoffs were unjust and strained their relations with management in the past. In October 2023, union workers at Homegrown went on a 119-day strike demanding the rehire of their union leader and Redmond-based worker Sydney Lankford.

"I was one of the labor organizers when we went on a three-day strike for lack of health care provisions," Lankford said at the press conference. "I got my write-up after this, and many more, where the management considered my presence at the union delegation as a reason to fire me." Lankford worked at the Redmond location for two years before being laid off, and she was vocal that, in her opinion, management had failed to provide adequate health care, air conditioning in stores, and better wages to workers.

The union filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, which allowed an investigation into Lankford's termination. Following this, the union and Homegrown Partners LLC reached an agreement that provided additional provisions to control temperatures in the stores, especially during summer months.

Founded by Gillis in 2009, Homegrown specializes in sandwiches, salads, and soups made from locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant prioritizes environmental stewardship by using compostable packaging, supporting sustainable farming, and minimizing food waste. With over 10 locations in the Seattle area, the chain offers a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

The July 25 protest involved workers from the Redmond and Southcenter outlets who shared their experiences working at Homegrown and how the layoffs would impact their livelihoods. Lankford, along with union workers, voiced concerns about the abrupt notice of store closures, stating they initially found out from another source and were only informed by Homegrown management after questioning them.

Gillis and representatives at Homegrown Partners LLC have not responded to the Emerald's requests for comments.

"We are calling on democratic officials to publicly condemn 'union busting,' because we know that the company is shutting down these stores to earn additional profits," Homegrown worker Clio Jensen said. "It is not fair that they're throwing 150 workers under the bus, and we're fighting for severance and to ensure that communities in Seattle understand the unjust practices against unions."

At the press conference, Jensen and her co-workers demanded severance for all employees, including those about to be laid off, along with six months of health care coverage and priority hiring at Gillis-owned companies.

"We understand that the closing of our stores is not good news, and it negatively impacts our employment, and this is a just fight," Lankford said. "My co-workers and I are still in shock, because we had finally reached a point where we felt safe and respected."

Lankford spoke about the 119-long day strike at multiple locations across the city, including Southcenter, Queen Anne, and Capitol Hill, prior to which the group had attained an 84% vote count to form a union.

Homegrown worker Zane Smith stated that the union members voted 100 to 1 to ratify their contract on March 13, 2024, winning improved health care for themselves and their families, two-year successorship to protect the union, and about a 50-cent wage increase. Smith is one of the 150 workers who will be laid off in September.

Homegrown workers, in their statement at the press conference, said they turned to "militant" actions in order to win heat pay, rightful protections, and reasonable wages. They said it was important for all workers to take strong action against management, including strikes and store shutdowns.

"We're going to continue to speak up and make sure that we can work towards ensuring that people still have jobs and health care provisions," Smith said. "We're also going to be as strong as we can to negotiate with management because we don't know when these decisions were made, and why."

Featured Image: Workers from the Homegrown sandwich chain condemn closures and layoffs during a Renton press conference. (Photo: Soumya Gupta)