Waffle House Workers Demand Change in Response to Poverty Wages and Workplace Violence

A group of Waffle House workers in the southern United States are demanding changes from the company due to their low wages and the violence they face in the workplace. Cook Gerald Green, who works at a Waffle House location in Georgia, expressed his frustration with having to deal with unruly customers while trying to do his job. Green stated, "We don't want that stuff. Stop trying to be on your cousin's fight compilation video. We're just trying to get your food and send you on your way."

The lack of concern from management regarding the ongoing workplace violence and other complaints prompted staff from three locations in the South to launch a petition for change. Green and his colleagues delivered the petition, which garnered 13,000 signatures, to the Waffle House headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The petition highlights the constant threat of violence in-store and the issue of poverty wages. The workers are demanding a minimum wage of $25 per hour, an end to mandatory meal deductions, and 24-hour security at all three locations.

The call for action by Waffle House workers is supported by the Union for Southern Service Workers (USSW), which was established in 2022 to represent low-wage workers in the service industry. The workers staged "speak outs" in April and September of this year to publicly discuss their concerns about their jobs. This recent demand for change has raised the possibility of Waffle House employees across the country seeking union recognition.

Green, who has been a Waffle House employee for seven years, has witnessed his fair share of violence while working at the chain. He recalled a tragic incident in 2017 when a friend and colleague was shot and killed during an armed robbery while on shift. Green was then forced to work a shift the next day, which deeply affected him. "He'd only been dead for a couple of hours," Green said. "That's always stuck with me. Y'all called me in just a couple of hours after someone died. That's messed up."

An investigation by The Independent revealed an online subculture based on violence at Waffle House, with hundreds of memes joking about the staff's readiness to fight. Despite the numerous anecdotes of violence at Waffle House locations nationwide, there has been little research into the causes. Some attribute the violence to the chain's all-night opening hours, which often attract inebriated customers.

Workplace violence is not unique to Waffle House, as other fast-food chains also struggle with similar issues. The "Fight for $15 and a Union" campaign collected 911 call records from fast-food locations in California, revealing over 77,000 violent or threatening incidents reported to the police between 2017 and 2020.

Wages are also a significant concern for Waffle House staff. Green, who is a highly skilled cook, earns $17.75 an hour after seven years with the company. Servers, on the other hand, earn less than minimum wage and rely on tips to make a living, which is often unpredictable. The lack of financial stability is weighing heavily on employees, leaving them with no savings or financial foundation.

The petition launched by the USSW emphasizes the frustration and determination of Waffle House workers to bring about change. They refuse to be exploited and demand 24/7 security, the ability to have a say in creating a Safety Plan for their store, an end to unfair paycheck deductions, and a $25 wage for all workers, including cooks and servers. The Independent reached out to Waffle House for comment but did not receive a response.