#stella's

A popular Winnipeg restaurant chain that put its building up for sale after workers went on strike received generous federal wage subsidies, records show.

Between September to November 2020, unionized workers at Stella’s Cafe’s flagship location in downtown Winnipeg were on strike.

Management listed the building for sale in November, claiming the union’s demands of giving long-time workers weekends off, minimum weekly hours and wage increases made it impossible to operate during a pandemic.

“Opening the Sherbrook location under the union’s demands isn’t possible,” Stella’s told Global News. “There is neither the time nor the financial resources to concentrate efforts on anything besides surviving the pandemic.”

But there were a few things Stella’s management didn’t mention, including that they had actually been receiving federal wage subsidies and continued to keep their kitchen open for pickup and delivery.

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278/365 

oh my gosh.

I tried stella’s (on pembina) again... and it didn’t suck! This is the first time that the food didn’t feel like they were lacking flavour. That’s what i hated the most. It always seemed overrated considering the prices and the atmosphere. 

I personally don’t care if the restaurant is “the coolest” looking/feeling. If the food isn’t good, I WON’T GO BACK.

Employees at one location of a Winnipeg restaurant chain that came under fire over working conditions have voted to unionize.

On Thursday workers from the Stella’s on Osborne Street voted to join UFCW Local 832, said a news release from the union.

“The credit for this organizing drive goes entirely to the employees at Stella’s, and those who started the Not My Stella’s campaign. It takes great courage to stand up to your employer and to call out inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, the strength these workers have shown is extraordinary,” Jeff Traeger, president of UFCW Local 832, was quoted as saying in the news release.

Employees at a second Stella's Cafe location in Winnipeg have voted to unionize.

A release sent to media from UFCW Local 832 late Friday said a majority of the 68 workers at the Sherbrook Street Stella's location said yes to joining the union.

The move follows a vote at the Winnipeg restaurant chain's Osborne Village location Thursday that saw 20 of the 23 employees there also decide to join the union.

"We're glad our new members at the Sherbrook location were able to carry yesterday's momentum forward," said UFCW Local 832 president Jeff Traeger in the release.

"We congratulate all of the hard work and effort these members have put in over the last few weeks, and we look forward to sitting down with everyone in the new year to start the process of building a better Stella's."

The votes followed a social media campaign about workplace treatment at the restaurants called Not My Stella's. Shortly after the Instagram account went up in November, dozens of current and former employees posted instances of sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying and abuse from senior staff.