Nearly 90 workers at Craig’s Cookies in Toronto have chosen to unionize as the Canadian chain expands nationally. Following a two-week effort that began in early December, over 85 employees voted to unionize with Unite HERE Local 75, which serves workers in the food service and hospitality sectors. These employees are spread across five Craig’s Cookies locations in Toronto: East York, Church-Wellesley, Leslieville, Parkdale, and Union Station.
The decision to eliminate paid breaks was a significant factor that led the workers to unionize, according to Daniel Janvier, a researcher at Unite HERE Local 75 involved in the process. Concerns also arose regarding stagnant wages compared to inflation and industry standards.
A spokesperson for Craig’s Cookies expressed respect for the workers’ choice to unionize and stated the company’s commitment to fair compensation and treatment for its team members. The company, owned by Craig Pike, started as a home baking business in 2013 and has since grown to 22 shops nationwide, with plans for further expansion.
The move towards unionization in the food services industry is relatively uncommon, with only 5.2% of the sector unionized in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. Rafael Gomez, a director at the University of Toronto, highlighted the appeal of collective agreements for businesses like Craig’s Cookies that are expanding rapidly but may lack sophisticated HR systems.
The unionization of Craig’s Cookies workers marks a significant development in the Canadian food services industry, given the declining trend of unionization rates in the country over recent decades.