Babbo Restaurant Union Protest
Editor’s note: Below you can learn about the push for unionization at Babbo Restaurant in Manhattan. Similarly to Starbucks and Amazon, this company is accused of union busting. In this case, however, there are also allegations of sexual harassment. On one previous protest occasion, also featuring the giant rat, someone wearing a restaurant uniform stabbed the rat, cutting the protest short. 
Following knifing, Scabby—the union rat mascot—protests Babbo Restaurant in Triumphant Return
Restaurant workers and community allies rallied to call for a boycott of Babbo, recently reopened by restaurateur Stephen Starr. During Scabby’s last stint outside Babbo, he was stabbed by a man who disappeared into the restaurant.
New York, New York – Union members and community allies held a boisterous “get well” ceremony for Scabby, the union rat, during a protest across the street from the newly reopened Babbo Ristorante. The crowd of a few dozen sang songs, chanted, and shared well-wishes for the recently-repaired mutant inflatable mascot as they called for patrons to boycott Babbo.
“We were concerned about this restaurant opening because of its history under previous management and the current owner’s record of union-busting,” said Mike Haack, a senior researcher at UNITE HERE Local 25. “The brazen knife attack on Scabby last month, which prompted police activity, has only made us more certain that diners should stay away, and neighbors, long concerned about the restaurant’s liquor license, should keep fighting.”
Police officers searched inside Babbo on its opening night on Monday October 27 after a knife-wielding person came out of the restaurant and slashed Scabby and retreated back inside. As a result of the flagrant lawbreaking and police activity which occurred as Babbo owner Stephen Starr dined in the restaurant, union officials with UNITE HERE Local 25 called on the local Community Board to oppose granting Babbo a permanent liquor license. The ongoing labor dispute, which escalated significantly with the attack on Scabby, has not stifled Local 25’s streetside communication near the restaurant, which is protected by the First Amendment. You can read more about the incident here.
This is not the first time Babbo has incited controversy in the neighborhood. In May, Community Board No. 2, representing Washington Square, recommended that the NY liquor board deny Babbo’s application for a permanent liquor license unless the license incorporates an array of stipulations including about noise level and limiting outdoor service.
The Babbo boycott is an expansion of a months-long boycott of Starr-operated restaurants in Washington, D.C. – Le Diplomate, The Occidental, and Osteria Mozza over the company’s union-busting. The boycott was called by restaurant workers with UNITE HERE Local 25, a D.C.-based hospitality workers’ union. The DC boycott has been endorsed by over 80 Senators and members of Congress, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Reps. Jared Goldman, Jerry Nadler, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Stephen Starr revived Babbo years after its closure following allegations of sexual harassment against its previous chef, Mario Batali, when it was under different management. At Starr’s Pastis restaurant in DC, UNITE HERE Local 25 has heard from two workers who say sexual harassment was a problem at their restaurant. A cook says a supervising chef grabbed her neck from behind and shook her. She said, “let me go, you’re hurting me,” and he laughed. One worker was scheduled to work with the chef for months after reporting him to HR. Feminist groups, including ReproAction and Feminist Majority, have signed a public letter calling on Starr to take a stand against sexual harassment.
UNITE HERE! is a hospitality workers union that represents 300,000 workers in the U.S. and Cananda. Its affiliates The Hotel Trades Council and UNITE HERE Local 100 represent 50,000 workers in the greater New York City area.
AFTER KNIFE-WIELDING CULPRIT IN RESTAURANT UNIFORM STABS UNION INFLATABLE RAT, LOCAL LIQUOR BOARD MUST ACT
Almost a dozen NYPD officers swept through Babbo on opening night after someone wearing the restaurant’s uniform slashed union property on the sidewalk outside the restaurant
Greenwich Village, New York ‘ Police officers searched Babbo on its opening night on Monday after a knife-wielding person came out of the restaurant and slashed Scabby the inflatable rat, worth around $7,000. As a result of the flagrant lawbreaking and police activity which occurred as Babbo owner Stephan Starr dined in the restaurant, union officials with UNITE HERE Local 25 are calling on and the local Community Board to deny Babbo a permanent liquor license. The ongoing labor dispute, which escalated significantly with the destruction of Scabby, will not stifle the streetside activity protected by the First Amendment to the restaurant.
‘This is an embarrassing and completely inappropriate way to run a business in Washington Square,’ said Mike Haack, a Senior Researcher at UNITE HERE Local 25, who witnessed the scene. ‘I’m concerned for the neighbors and residents, who have rightly been raising concerns about the impact this restaurant will have on their community.’
Haack was outside Babbo with Scabby, the union’s inflatable rat, sharing information with guests about Local 25’s call to boycott the restaurant. He heard a hissing noise and turned to see a person wearing Babbo uniform knifing Scabby. Haack alerted the NYPD, who arrived at the scene. Together with Haack, about a dozen NYPD officers searched the restaurant during dinner service to find and arrest the perpetrator, but they were unable to locate him. After the search. Haack overheard a restaurant staff member refuse to turn over CCTV footage to the NYPD to aid their investigation.
This is not the first time Babbo has incited controversy in the neighborhood. In May, Community Board No. 2, representing Washington Square, recommended that the NYC liquor board deny Babbo’s application for a permanent liquor license unless the license incorporates an array of stipulations including about noise level and limiting outdoor service.
‘What Mike witnessed on Monday night should confirm Babbo’s neighbors’ worst fears,’ said Benjy Cannon, UNITE HERE Local 25’s Communications Director. ‘If police had to be called over destruction of property from a knife-wielding person on opening night, who retreated into the restaurant and was apparently given shelter there, what other unpleasant surprises does Babbo have in store? The Community Board should not move forward with a permanent liquor license and authorities should step in to protect the neighborhood.’
The Babbo boycott is an expansion of a months-long boycott of STARR-operated restaurants in Washington, D.C ‘ Le Diplomate, The Occidental, and Osteria Mozza over the company’s union-busting. The boycott was called by restaurant workers with UNITE HERE Local 25, a D.C.-based hospitality workers’ union. The DC boycott has been endorsed by over 80 Senators and members of Congress, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Reps. Jared Goldman, Jerry Nadler, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Stephan Starr revived Babbo years after its closure following allegations of sexual harassment against its previous chef, Mario Batali, when it was under different management. On the decision to keep Babbo’s name, despite these allegations, the New York Times reported :
Mr. Ladner (the new head chef) liked the opportunity but not the name. ‘I didn’t initially think it was a great idea,’ he said. ‘I thought it was damaged.’ Not Mr. Starr. The restaurant was Babbo, and Babbo it would stay.
At Starr’s Pastis restaurant in DC, UNITE HERE Local 25 has heard from two workers who say sexual harassment was a problem at their restaurant. A cook says a supervising chef grabbed her neck from behind and shook her. She said, ‘let me go, you’re hurting me,’ and he laughed. One worker was scheduled to work with the chef for months after reporting him to HR. Feminist groups, including ReproAction and Feminist Majority, have signed a public letter calling on Starr to take a stand against sexual harassment.
In January, supermajorities of workers demanded voluntary recognition at three STARR restaurants in D.C.: St. Anselm, Pastis, and Le Diplomate. These workers hoped that restaurant owners would follow the example of Jos’ Andr’s, who voluntarily recognized the workers’ union at The Bazaar just days after they announced their campaign. STARR refused and instead resorted to classic union-busting tactics that workers say should have no place in D.C. restaurants. Workers have reported that the company, threatened them and hired outside anti-union ‘persuaders’ to campaign against the union.
On February 21st, workers at St. Anselm voted to join Local 25. Instead of recognizing the result of the election, STARR Restaurants filed objections ‘ joining Amazon in claiming that the NLRB lacks authority to certify union elections when there is not a quorum of NLRB members. There was not a quorum because Trump fired a member of the labor board in January. STARR also petitioned the NLRB’s Regional Office to cancel the union election at Le Diplomate scheduled for March.
Between STARR’s objection to the election at St. Anselm where workers won the union, its interference in the Pastis election, and the cancellation of the election at Le Diplomate, it’s clear that STARR does not respect free and fair NLRB elections.
UNITE HERE Local 25 is affiliated with UNITE HERE, a labor union that represents 300,000 working people across Canada and the United States. Our members work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries. Our membership is perse. We are predominantly women and people of color, and we hail from all corners of the planet
POINTING TO UNION BUSTING AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS AT DC RESTAURANTS, RESTAURANT WORKERS CALL FOR BABBO BOYCOTT ON OPENING DAY
80 members of Congress, including Senator Chuck Schumer, have joined a call to boycott DC restaurants operated by STARR
New York — As diners arrive on the opening night at the revived Babbo in Greenwich Village, they will be greeted by Scabby, a large inflatable rat, and flyers that read: BOYCOTT BABBO. The Babbo boycott is an expansion of a months-long boycott of STARR-operated restaurants in Washington, D.C – Le Diplomate, The Occidental, and Osteria Mozza over the company’s union-busting. The boycott was called by restaurant workers with UNITE HERE Local 25, a D.C.-based hospitality workers’ union.
The DC boycott has been endorsed by 80 Senators and members of Congress, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Reps. Jared Goldman, Jerry Nadler, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Stephan Starr is reviving Babbo years after its closure following allegations of sexual harassment against its previous chef, Mario Batali, when it was under different management. On the decision to keep Babbo’s name, despite these allegations, the New York Times reported:
Mr. Ladner (the new head chef) liked the opportunity but not the name. “I didn’t initially think it was a great idea,” he said. “I thought it was damaged.” Not Mr. Starr. The restaurant was Babbo, and Babbo it would stay.
At Starr’s Pastis restaurant in DC, UNITE HERE Local 25 has heard from two workers who say sexual harassment was a problem at their restaurant. A cook says a supervising chef grabbed her neck from behind and shook her. She said, “let me go, you’re hurting me,” and he laughed. One worker was scheduled to work with the chef for months after reporting him to HR. Feminist groups, including ReproAction and Feminist Majority, have signed a public letter calling on Starr to take a stand against sexual harassment.
“I thought it was tasteless and gross that Stephan Starr chose to keep the Babbo name given the accusations against the chef when it was last open,” said Benjy Cannon, Director of Communications at UNITE HERE Local 25. “We’re asking New Yorkers to stay away.”
In January, supermajorities of workers demanded voluntary recognition at three STARR restaurants in D.C.: St. Anselm, Pastis, and Le Diplomate. These workers hoped that restaurant owners would follow the example of José Andrés, who voluntarily recognized the workers’ union at The Bazaar just days after they announced their campaign. STARR refused and instead resorted to classic union-busting tactics that workers say should have no place in D.C. restaurants. Workers have reported that the company offered raises in exchange for campaigning against the union, threatened workers, and hired outside anti-union “persuaders” to campaign against the union.
On February 21st, workers at St. Anselm voted to join Local 25. Instead of recognizing the result of the election, STARR Restaurants filed objections – joining Amazon in claiming that the NLRB lacks authority to certify union elections when there is not a quorum of NLRB members. There was not a quorum because Trump fired a member of the labor board in January. STARR also petitioned the NLRB’s Regional Office to cancel the union election at Le Diplomate scheduled for March.
Between STARR’s objection to the election at St. Anselm where workers won the union, its interference in the Pastis election, and the cancellation of the election at Le Diplomate, it’s clear that STARR does not respect free and fair NLRB elections.
UNITE HERE is a labor union that represents 300,000 working people across Canada and the United States. Our members work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries. Our membership is perse. We are predominantly women and people of color, and we hail from all corners of the planet.
Banner Image: Union Protest. Image Credit – UNITE HERE
