Strike at Georgian Waffle House over mandatory meal deductions

Workers at Waffle House restaurants in Georgia went on strike on Monday to demand better working conditions, higher wages, and the cancellation of the company's policy of deducting meal costs from their paychecks.

In a statement from the Union of Restaurant Workers of the Southern States and Waffle House employees in the Atlanta metro area, it is mentioned that the company deducts at least $3 from workers' wages for each shift, regardless of whether the employee has food or not. The union estimates that this national policy could lead to deductions of nearly $30 million annually from workers.

“If Waffle House thinks they can keep deducting money from our paychecks for food we don’t eat, they clearly don’t understand the power we’ve built in our union,” said Kindi Smith, a Waffle House worker in Atlanta. “We come to work every day and try to make ends meet, earning just $2.90 an hour before tips, so losing $3 every shift really hurts. We are unhappy and going on strike to demand that Waffle House stop this policy nationwide, listen to us, and make changes that will ensure our safety at work and help support our families.”

Currently, around 13,000 workers have signed a petition to the U.S.

Workers are also demanding a minimum wage of $25 an hour and safety measures in all restaurants.