Holy Donut Workers Vote Unanimously to Unionize with Machinists

Workers at the Holy Donut at the Park Avenue location in Portland unanimously voted Monday to form a union with the Machinists Union. In a statement, the union thanked supporters who backed its organizing campaign.

“To every person, union, and organization who called, messaged, emailed, mailed letters, showed up in person, stood with us in any way: Thank you!” the statement read. “We are truly so excited to join our friends throughout Maine to advocate for all workers! Solidarity forever!”

All eight workers at the shop previously submitted a formal request for union recognition and picketed outside the shop. Workers have cited several reasons for organizing their union, including low wages, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, inadequate staffing, unpredictable scheduling and more. Justin Gross, a five-year employee who helped lead the effort, told NEWS CENTER that workers turned to unionizing after feeling their concerns were not addressed.

“We want to be able to argue collectively instead of on an individual level,” Gross said in March. “When we talk to them on a personal level, they just ignore us.”

He said he earns about 75 cents above Portland’s minimum wage and that some workers have logged more than 70 hours a week while struggling financially.