Another harbinger of a post-pandemic Mission

Labor and community supporters of laid-off workers at the boutique chocolate producer Dandelion Chocolate rallied in front of the company's Valencia Street location on Sunday. 

In March, workers began the legal election process to force their employer to recognize their planned affiliation with International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 6.

The subsequent vote in late April didn't yield a clear result. The tally showed 18 to 16 in favor of forming a union, with nine additional votes contested. Workers and management will argue before the National Labor Relations Board to decide which side won.

Meanwhile, on June 3, management laid off or fired nine workers, union activists all, seven of whom were people of color. Remaining workers saw pay cuts and schedule changes. Management blames the pandemic.

At the rally, Dandelion workers spoke movingly of their pride in the product and their hope to return to jobs they had found fulfilling.

San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan speaking in support of the Dandelion workers.

The organization Democratic Socialists of America took a leading role in mobilizing for the protest.