Enough of this warm and fuzzy shit. It’s time for The Turkey Sandwich to start serving up some hard-hitting journalism. It’s time to start talking about the REAL issues that matter. Like the shit that going down at Jimmy John’s in Pioneer Square (Seattle). These are real issues with real people and The Turkey Sandwich isn’t going to just turn away and act like it’s not going on.
When I left the office to find my lunch I hadn’t a care in the world. But when I got back to the office, I was burdened with the knowledge of real atrocities going on in the world of Sandwich Making. We would all like to act like this shit isn’t happening. But it is.
Meet Jason (right) and his knucklehead friend:
Jason was done wrong by some asshole manager at Jimmy John’s. You see, Jason is a bike messenger and he doesn’t make dick for money. So he took a second job at Jimmy John’s to make a little extra cash.
Apparently the management at Jimmy John’s had a problem with the stench Jason would drag in to the shop when he showed up to work. “Valid point” you might say, but here’s the deal: It wasn’t Jason that stunk, it was his work shirt. And Jimmy John’s only gave him one fucking shirt. Jason doesn’t live in some swanky house with a washer and dryer. Jason can’t afford to be going out to do laundry before every shift. So the shirt stunk.
Jason tells me that he very politely explained his dilemma and requested another shirt from the jerkoffs at Jimmy John’s. And like the sons of bitches that they are, they rejected his request.
So Jason and his knucklehead friends picket Jimmy John’s and explain his plight to anyone who will lend an ear. Jason is willing to negotiate. He’s willing to get his job (with the addition of a couple more work shirts) back or will accept just two months of severance pay.
The Turkey Sandwich Report stands in solidarity with Jason. We will not be patronizing ANY Jimmy John’s until this situation is rectified.
If any of the douchebags from Jimmy John’s would like to contact me, The Turkey Sandwich Report is ready and willing to mediate this stuation. I hope we can reach a solution. It’s in the best interest for all of us.
Si se puede!
When I worked at a job where we had to wear uniforms and whenever I wanted another shirt I would just “forget” my work shirt and have to “borrow” one that i never gave back. But it’s fucked up for them not to give two shirts, I’m pretty sure that’s standard practice at most uniform based businesses….
I work in the University District store and things are even grimmer here. The new GM by the name of John (I’ll with hold his last name) has gone Nazi fanatic, firing anyone that does not meet his rigorous standards of grooming (even though he is often unshaved) and physical appearance. In addition to the smelly guy (sorry, but that’s what he’s going by these days) several people have been fired at my store for a miscellany of reasons including one employe being shit canned for joining in on the protesting, another for having tattoos and large gauged ears despite him recently receiving an 100% satisfactory work performance review, and another because his shorts had cargo pockets and instead of letting him go the few blocks home to change he was flat out fired.
All these people have been working for the company for over a year, one at least two years, and were each fired by John (or rather through John as he never did it himself or face to face) for the asinine reason of having “West Coast Attitude”. The way I and others see it is the issue isn’t with the free speech loving, tattoo having, pocket wearing employees but rather with the mid-west mentality that thinks most people with tattoos and piercings are “freaks”, as it was described to me by the man himself, John.
This is of course the same man who continues to complain about not making enough in bonuses when everyone around him makes minimum wage, gives his friends and comrades free items when he is working to get rid of the employee discount, and has previously sold weed to a verified crack head IN THE STORE. I was an eye witness to that last one and only goes to show the clash of ideals that those of the corporate hierarchy of Jimmy Johns attempts to force upon the peons while the management takes a more liberal approach towards the rules.
If there is to be any more picketing it should be at the U-District store. It’s bigger, takes in more business, and is the headquarters for all Seattle stores. Plus by being located next to the university I’m sure there will be no lack of supporters. With all the recent firings I’m sure there is no lack of ill will directed towards Jimmy Johns but there will only be more to come. In the last few days several people have been hired where there is no room more bodies. It’s our theory that there is about to be a massive lay off of people who have openly disapproved of the way things have been recently handled in an attempt to cull desentors. This, once again, masterminded by the cheating, drug dealing, General Manager at the University District Jimmy Johns.
Hi Jimmy Johns Employee. I’m John, one of Jasons friends in his fight for fair treatment at Jimmy Johns. Do you have some contact info so you and I could talk more about management at you store? We know that management has fired a lot of people for ridiculous reasons, and we’ve worked with bike messengers there in the past who have been really mistreated (even someone who got hit by a car and then fired for asking for help with medical bills).
Anyways, even just a casual meeting over some drinks would be nice. Feel free to email me at:
kid_victory1@yahoo.com
Ok, Tshirts cost $15. Sure your broke cough it up. Its ridiculous. You wasted your time writing this blog instead of working. Thats only 2 hours of work to get a shirt. Instead you blame management for their “unfair” practices. They gave you a job. Be grateful. They told you how much the shirts cost before you start work. Don’t diss the chain because of your own stupidity. I have worked there as a register worker for a long time and frankly its a great job for me during high school. You must be pretty damn lame to have this as your normal job.
This is to all you cheapskates in your air conditioned high rise offices (some who are my coworkers)- If you buy a sandwich from JJ’s and have it delivered. It’s a good idea to tip the poor schmo riding his/her ass off in 103 degree heat more than 15%.
I worked beside John for quite some time and let me just say he is GREAT at what he does. I’d say one of the best. Did you know John worked at a corporate store in the mid-west for 4 years, and even managed at one his last year at corporate. For those of you who don’t know, when you work at a corporate store you follow all of the rules or you’re out. Especially @ JJ’s because at corporate you help train future GM’s across the US. These rules are not hard to follow when you know what they are. ANYWAYS I’ll get to the point. How are you gonna hate on John when all doing is following the rules….. JIMMY’s rules not Johns. The dress code is clearly posted in the back drivers area. It’s too bad none of the other managers followed the rules until now, then maybe John wouldn’t be targeted like he is. Are you people seriously protesting Jimmy Johns?? lol wtf??? Like its going to make a difference. Jason isn’t getting any money for refusing to shower! I mean come on wash your ass, didn’t your mom teach you that? Why don’t you protest rising gas prices, something that makes sense please!! I mean do you know why your even protesting JJ’s? And by the way Jimmy Johns DOES give 2 uniforms. Often times you’re even GIVEN another one when they get more. If you only got 1 uniform maybe it’s because they were out, in that case you should remind your manager you need another. I’m sure they have a lot more on their mind than your uniform. And Jason or whoever claims John is slangin in the lobby… you’re the only one that saw it because it happened in your imagination!!! So please why don’t you get the fuck off John, Glenn, and JJ’s nuts and wash yours.
I agree with Cali. I ride a bike too but I see all you hipster ass wannabe bike messengers and when you pass me you WREAK. If you are seriously protesting because your boss fired you for coming to work smelling like B.O. then you are a bigger loser than I thought. Stay in Capitol Hill where they put up with that neo-hippie bullshit. You’re worse than ave rats I tell you …..
I saw the picketers at the U-District Store today. I frequent the U-District location and have always thought the staff to be upbeat and that there was good vibe in the place. Sucks to hear that’s contrary to the fact.
Couple of comments, Washington is an at-will state, which means that either the employer or the employee can end the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice and with our without cause.
More info on this: http://library.findlaw.com/2003/Sep/30/133062.html
Now I am in no means condoning anyone firing someone for the hell of it or because they “stink”. There are always two sides to every story. But, if anyone fired has a real case or everyone fired has the case to make a class action suit, then see a lawyer. But if these people were fired for reasons that violiated anything in the company’s employee manual, then there’s no case. Personal hygene is the employees responsbility and many retailers, especially food related, have strict standards about Tattoos, Piercings, etc.
My sympathies to anyone out of work in this economic climate, but all the more reason to try make any job work and do what you need to, to keep it.
Have any of the peolple unfairly fired contacted the corporate office? Does any any of the mangement that have allegedly fired people for no reason, have a superior / supervisor you can appeal to?
As for picketing, I applaud your effort but have to kind of agree with Cali (above). Jason isn’t going to get his job back. It may avoid this sort of alleged treatment of other employees in the futre and perhaps that’s the goal. When I spoke with one of the picketers at the U-District he explained the plite of Jason but didn’t seem to have a goal, except in my opinion to spite Jimmy John’s.
I was just fired. Ann Arbor Michigan. I was training to be a manager. It was like boot camp. No personal connection with you, just put you somewhere and when you screw up because they didn’t train you, they give fire eyes and act like you are stupid. I started to train guys that the manager couldn’t in the 8 days I worked. A little personal connectin goes a long way. Comradery.
I also believe they are just as scared for their management job as everyone else is. I think I possed a threat to the the manager as he could see I would run the store no problem, just a matter of time. And my people would give genuine smiles as they would enjoy what they do.
The managers can be handled easily in moderation, but they work you 13 hours a day with no break and don’t let you eat. Or at least highly discourage it. If you say I am starving, they will let you eat at 3 o’clock. Which is 9 ours into the shift. After being told you are a POS and stupid no matter how well you are doing, it gets to you.
I was eventually terminated at the cheese slicer. I sliced faster in 8 days then the GM did in 5 years. And hit good weight. I was to weigh slices between 28 and 32 grams, but try to hit low for food cost. So I did. I was slamming them out fast (as I was instructed to do) and he came over all fire eyed (again) and asked what weight am I going for. I explained 28-32. He says NOO. 28-30 is the target. I said ya I know that, check it out. Look. Then he gets mad because I am doing good and he knows I could take his job if it goes any longer so he fires me.
I asked the manager above him to look at my slicing and weigh it. It was all right on. If I was originally intructed to hit 28 without fail then thats what I would have done, but I was told to shoot low 28 to 30, so I did and still got yeld at. I asked the area manager to check my work, and all he did is stand their while the GM fired me. Then I call him and he puts the a label on the situation of insubordination. So I spoke my peice on how the GM is an emotinal criple but they are good buddies outside of work so it was all just soemthing to talk about while they drink and gamble on Monday.
I agree with Cali and JJ Employee.
#1 You don’t have to work there if you don’t want to. There are other crappy minimum wage jobs out there to make your life miserable.
#2 John really is a douchbag.
they dont give us lunch!!!!
thank you