After striking for nearly three months over alleged sexual harassment and unfair labor practices at Acme Food & Beverage Company, demonstrators recently shared they are ending their immediate efforts.

Some employees of the popular Carrboro restaurant went on strike in late November alleging the leadership of Acme, including owner Kevin Callaghan, did not respond to workers’ concerns and complaints of inappropriate comments in the workplace. After holding a rally to raise awareness, negotiating with legal representation for the restaurant and establishing fundraisers to cover some striking workers’ income, the organizers shared they have reached a resolution.

But in a post shared on the “Acme on Strike” Instagram page on Thursday, the chief form of communication for the movement, organizers said not all of their goals were achieved.

“While we made some strides, we were ultimately uncomfortable with Acme’s responses to our demands,” said striking workers. “We felt the restaurant was more concerned with its public image and bottom line than its workers. Acme’s actions demonstrated to us a lack of understanding and accountability for the harm they caused their workers past and present. As a result, almost all of us are vacating our positions.”

Legal representation for Acme, which is the firm Nexsen Pruet, confirmed to Chapelboro that talks between the two sides have come to an end.

“Acme negotiated with the former striking employees through their legal representative for almost nine weeks,” a spokesperson said, “meeting nearly all of their demands before we were notified on Friday, Feb. 18 that the strikers chose to end the demonstration before terms were officially agreed to.”

Initial demands shared by strike organizers in January included Callaghan not being allowed to return to the premises of the restaurant, and that the chef and owner write a formal apology to staff, separate from the one penned the first day of the strike. The former employees also demanded a dedicated Human Resources officer be appointed and that the restaurant, as well as the umbrella company Damn Good Foods Inc., make a concerted effort to hire a more diverse staff.

Ultimately, strike organizers said their negotiations resulted in “robust, anti-harrassment policies and training for staff,” with Nexsen Pruet confirming that reviews to HR policies and an “impartial investigation” were conducted. Former employees said because of that, and their efforts to spark discussion in Carrboro, they feel a sense of accomplishment for their actions.

“The outcome is disappointing, but we are very proud of the work we have done,” read Thursday’s Instagram post. “[Seeing] the consciousness raising in the community, and providing an example to other workers has been incredible to bear witness to. We still consider this a victory, as so rarely do we see tangible change when power is so imbalanced.”

The former Acme employees wrote they are holding a victory rally at the Carrboro Municipal Lot on Sunday, February 27 to share future plans of organizing a coalition to help represent workers wronged either through unfair labor practice or abuse in the workplace.

Acme Food & Beverage Company, which Callaghan has operated for more than 20 years, has been located in downtown Carrboro since 1998. Since the strike began, the restaurant has remained closed to dine-in customers, serving only take-out orders.

Callaghan shared a statement to Chapelboro through Nexsen Pruet on Sunday. It reads:

“Acme has been serving Carrboro and the surrounding communities for more than 24 years. The past several years have been tough on the hospitality industry and we have all experienced significant change in order to stay in business. Thank you to all our patrons and employees who have supported us. Because of you, we were able to engage third party support to help with HR training and we continued to provide full wages to the employees that remained with us. We appreciate the learning that this event has brought to us and we are excited to open our dining room once again to the community.”

 

Photo via Margot Lester.

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