Barboncino Workers Make History, Becoming First Unionized Pizzeria in NYC

In a unanimous election victory on Wednesday, workers at Barboncino, a popular pizzeria in Crown Heights, became the first unionized pizzeria in New York City. After seeking voluntary recognition by management in November 2022, workers at the store filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board on May 22 of this year.

Frequently lauded as one of Brooklyn's best pizzerias, workers decided to form a union to advocate for better wages, more control over scheduling, clear disciplinary procedures and a "no tolerance" sexual harassment policy. They hope that their efforts will improve conditions not only in their industry more broadly, a major sector in NYC, and one rife with labor abuses. Mike Kemmett, a bartender at Barboncino, told amNY that Barboncino Workers United now belongs to the larger labor movement in the United States.

“I’m proud to be part of the fight to bring order and justice to the nation’s fastest-growing, least-protected industry,” Kemmett said. “My heart belongs to Barboncino Workers United.” Read more in amNY and the New York Times and follow the new Barboncino Union on Twitter and Instagram.