Asheville food, beverage union confirmed, leaders plan next steps

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read

ASHEVILLE - A grassroots Asheville-based food and beverage group has solidified its role as an advocate for workers’ rights.

Asheville Food and Beverage United has officially become a labor union, Local 828 of the national restaurant union, Restaurant Workers United.

Jen Hampton, Asheville Food and Beverage United lead organizer, speaks outside the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022.
Jen Hampton, Asheville Food and Beverage United lead organizer, speaks outside the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022.

AFBU’s jurisdiction spans North Carolina. However, Chair Jen Hampton said the union will focus on Asheville and Buncombe County while continuing outreach to other cities’ food and beverage industry workers.

“I met with some workers in Charlotte this weekend who are looking to do the same thing that we’ve done ― build a citywide industry union,” Hampton said. “They will eventually want to affiliate with us once they get it started.”

Hampton said she’s been in communication with service workers in Raleigh who are interested in doing the same. Furthermore, workers in Virginia have reached out to AFBU for guidance.

Asheville Food and Beverage United action plan

On Nov. 13, AFBU’s membership campaign launched with 22 people in the union, Hampton said.

More than 3,000 individuals are on the union's listserv.

“People can become members either by unionizing at their place of work and we will help them negotiate a contract or people can just join AFBU straight up if they work in any service industry job,” Hampton said.

Karli Schwartz listens to speakers during an Asheville Food and Beverage United rally at the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022. The group asked local government to provide free parking or parking at a reduced rate for downtown workers, who may spend between $100-$400 per month on parking.
Karli Schwartz listens to speakers during an Asheville Food and Beverage United rally at the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022. The group asked local government to provide free parking or parking at a reduced rate for downtown workers, who may spend between $100-$400 per month on parking.

Hampton, who’s worked in the local service industry, has led AFBU in efforts including rallying in support of workers who unionized at Green Sage Café-South and petitioning for reduced parking payments for downtown service workers.

Those who join may benefit from AFBU’s support in areas like workplace issues, workers' rights, facilitating conversations between employees and employers/management, and unionizing.

Hampton said that a health care subscription plan is in development that would offer affordable monthly pricing for primary medical care.

“Because we are so new, we don’t have a lot of the benefits that a traditional union would have but as we grow our membership and our resources, we’ll have more to offer people,” she said. “Become a member, help us grow, help us increase our power.”

In the next year, AFBU aims to increase to 100 members and then hold elections for its steering committee.

Jen Hampton, right, chair of Asheville Food and Beverage United, talks with Michael Kryzanek, Vice President of business development at the Buncombe County TDA May 31, 2023.
Jen Hampton, right, chair of Asheville Food and Beverage United, talks with Michael Kryzanek, Vice President of business development at the Buncombe County TDA May 31, 2023.

One of AFBU’s current campaigns is focused on wage theft issues and labor law education, specifically on tip pools and pay transparency.

“We’re seeing a lot of people talk about issues that qualify as wage theft. We’re hearing people want to learn more about that, so we’ll do a series of workshops helping people file wage theft claims,” Hampton said.

Collaborative efforts

AFBU and Our VOICE, an anti-sexual violence and anti-human trafficking agency in Buncombe County, are partnering on a sexual harassment education program developed for restaurants called “86 It,” coined for an industry code meaning to eliminate or stop something.

On Nov. 18, Hampton will co-facilitate in the launch of the first Asheville People’s Power Assembly, or The People’s Assembly, a Democratic forum for the Asheville community from 1-2 p.m. at the YWCA of Asheville, 30 Woodfin St.

Jen Hampton, Asheville Food and Beverage United lead organizer, speaks outside the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022.
Jen Hampton, Asheville Food and Beverage United lead organizer, speaks outside the Buncombe County Courthouse September 6, 2022.

The Assembly stems from the North Carolina People’s Power Coalition, a statewide coalition of more than 100 organizations, labor unions and other labor groups formed last spring in response to far-reaching legislation from the N.C. General Assembly, according to Hampton, who is a steering committee member for Asheville People’s Power Assembly.

Interested community members from all industries are invited to attend to discuss how to address issues including affordable housing, racial justice, LGBTQ rights and economic security.

“We feel like no progress, no change is really going to happen in our society unless the working class demands it,” Hampton said.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Food & Beverage United becomes labor union, seeks members