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Ghirardelli Workers Walk Out: 3-Day Strike Hits SF Chocolate Factory
San Francisco Ghirardelli Chocolate Workers Go on 3-Day Strike: Here’s What You Need to Know
The Big Picture
Workers at the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square walked off the job on Thursday, starting a three-day strike. They’re asking customers to stay away from the flagship store until their demands are met.
Location: The Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop on North Pointe Street (the flagship store)
Who’s striking: 45 union workers represented by Unite Here Local 2
When: Thursday through Saturday (picket lines until 10 p.m. each night)
Other stores: Two other Ghirardelli Square locations remain open — they’re staffed by non-union workers
Why Are Workers Striking?
The union says they’ve been negotiating with Ghirardelli for over a year without reaching a deal. Here are the main issues:
1. Healthcare Changes the Company Wants
- Ghirardelli wants to move workers from their current union-run health plan to a company-run plan
- Workers say this would drastically increase their costs
- Current plan: $50 co-pay for emergency room visits
- Proposed company plan: Could cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for the same care
2. The Mysterious 6% Fee
- Ghirardelli charges customers a 6% "healthcare coverage fee" on their bills
- The company won’t disclose how much money this fee brings in or how it’s spent
- Workers want transparency — they think this money should help fund their healthcare
3. Low Wages Make Healthcare Unaffordable
- Workers earn $19–$25 per hour
- They say they can’t afford high insurance premiums on these wages
- Many have prescriptions and ongoing medical needs
What Workers Are Saying
"I can’t risk a hospital visit. I just tell myself, I hope you don’t get sick."
— Michael Sage, Ghirardelli greeter"They refuse to give us that information. They want to take away our healthcare and they’re not willing to be transparent about how they pay for that healthcare."
— Diego Huerta, cashier"I have to take prescriptions and I wouldn’t be able to afford them. Without the union plan I would be paying a lot more through their insurance."
— Rachel Ziering, stocking supervisor"That’s a testament to the fact that they need these workers to run this store, the same workers that they’re trying to cut their healthcare."
— Sonya Karable, Unite Here Local 2
What the Company Says
Ghirardelli released this statement:
"We value and respect our employees and the important contributions they make to Ghirardelli. We are currently in active contract negotiations with the union and are committed to bargaining in good faith. Our main focus right now is on reaching an agreement that supports our employees and ensures the long-term success of our business."
Important Context
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
- This is the first strike at this location since 1984 (40 years ago!)
- The striking workers include cashiers, candy makers, stockers, and greeters
- The flagship store is closed during the strike — a sign of how essential these workers are
- Two other Ghirardelli Square stores remain open (they have non-union staff)
- Some customers are honoring the boycott; others are shopping at the open locations
- One visitor from Orange County said: "Everybody has the right to know what changes are and what’s happening to their healthcare."
What Happens Next?
- Picket lines continue through Saturday night (until 10 p.m. each evening)
- Negotiations are ongoing — both sides say they’re at the table
- The union wants: Transparency about the 6% fee + keeping their current healthcare plan
- The company says: They’re bargaining in good faith and want a fair agreement
- After Saturday: Unknown — could extend, could reach a deal, or could pause
Summary
San Francisco’s flagship Ghirardelli Chocolate store is closed for three days while 45 union workers strike over healthcare and transparency. The workers — who make $19–25/hour — say the company wants to replace their affordable union health plan (with $50 ER co-pays) with a costly company plan, while refusing to explain what happens to the 6% "healthcare fee" charged to customers. The last strike here was in 1984. Two other nearby Ghirardelli locations remain open. Picket lines run through Saturday night.
FAQ
Why don’t the workers just accept the company’s health plan?
Because it would cost them dramatically more. Right now, an ER visit costs $50. Under the company plan, workers say it could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars — impossible on $19–25/hour wages.
What is this 6% healthcare fee on customer receipts?
Ghirardelli adds a 6% surcharge to customer bills labeled as a "healthcare coverage fee." Workers want to know how much money this raises and where it goes — they suspect it should fund their healthcare but the company won’t share the numbers.
Are all Ghirardelli stores in San Francisco closed?
No. Only the flagship Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop on North Pointe Street is struck. The other two locations in Ghirardelli Square are open and staffed by non-union workers.
How long has this been going on?
The union says they’ve been negotiating for over a year without a contract agreement. This is the first strike at this location since 1984 — 40 years ago.
Can I still buy Ghirardelli chocolate during the strike?
Yes — the two non-union Ghirardelli Square locations are open, and Ghirardelli products are sold in grocery stores nationwide. The strike only affects the flagship store on North Pointe Street.
