Nearly 90 employees at Craig’s Cookies in Toronto have chosen to unionize as the popular Canadian chain continues its national expansion. The decision to unionize came after a two-week organizing effort that commenced in early December, resulting in over 85 employees voting to join Unite HERE Local 75, a union representing workers in the food service and hospitality sectors. These employees are spread across five Craig’s Cookies locations in Toronto, including East York, Church-Wellesley, Leslieville, Parkdale, and Union Station.
Key concerns that led to the unionization drive included the removal of paid breaks, stagnant wages compared to industry standards, and perceived lack of competitiveness within the broader food service industry. Daniel Janvier, a researcher with Unite HERE Local 75 involved in the organizing process, highlighted the significant contributions of the workers to the company’s success and growth.
Craig’s Cookies spokesperson stated that the company respects the employees’ decision to unionize and will collaborate with the union in good faith, emphasizing Craig’s Cookies’ commitment to providing competitive compensation and fair treatment to its team members. The company, founded by Craig Pike in 2013, transitioned from a home baking business to its first physical store in 2018 and has since expanded to 22 locations nationwide, with further growth planned for the coming year.
The unionization of Craig’s Cookies workers is seen as a noteworthy development within Canada’s food services industry, where unionization rates have been declining since the 1980s. Rafael Gomez, from the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto, noted that the union model can be attractive for expanding businesses lacking sophisticated HR systems. Despite operating under a franchise model, which remains unchanged by the collective agreement, the move towards unionization may simplify operational aspects for the company.
With only 5.2% of the food services industry unionized in 2023, the unionization of Craig’s Cookies workers is considered a distinctive occurrence in the sector, according to Gomez.
