After weeks of protests and boycotts, patrons of Burgerville locations in Portland, Oregon, are now free to enjoy their burgers and fries without a side order of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) propaganda thanks to a revised button policy. Yes, a button policy.
The Burgerville brouhaha began in August when workers at one of two unionized locations started wearing buttons emblazoned with the political propagandist message of “Abolish ICE” and “No One is Illegal.”
This ran afoul of a company policy instituted in late August by Holland Inc., the chain’s parent company, prohibiting “political” buttons, but allowing those promoting better wages and working conditions. When workers at one of two unionized locations refused to remove them they were fired.
After the company backed down by re-hiring – including back pay – for the 10 agitators, the Burgerville Workers Union (BWU) posted their delight in forcing the company to revoke the “white supremacist” policy. The post also promised: “Corporate is not off the hook.”
The leftists’ actions were not so popular among others on social media, however.
Among those responding on Twitter was radio host Ken Webster Jr. who suggested a new welcome statement: “Welcome to Antifa burger, would you like oppression with that?”
“Kiosks here we come. They’re cheaper and they can’t display political messages against policy. Enjoy your job while it exists, silly Burgerville unionites,” tweeted another (former) customer.
“Guests provided feedback that they didn’t want to see personal and political messages while they ate,” and “some employees expressed that the content of the buttons was drawing unwanted attention that made them uncomfortable,” said Liz Graham, director of human resources.
“We see the workplace as a central realm for combating white supremacy and anti-immigrant sentiment,” said Emmet Schlenz, a spokesman for the Burgerville Workers Union, told the Oregonian.
Thankfully, the company sees it differently, releasing a statement to Fox News on Sunday saying their longstanding verbal policy barring the wearing of personal buttons would be put in writing. To no one’s surprise BWU criticized the decision as “racist” and urged their fellow leftists to tell Burgerville “that undocumented immigrants are welcome here, and tell them to work with the union on a button policy!”
It may be a small victory, but an important one heading into November with the fate of Oregon’s sanctuary status on the ballot. After living in a sanctuary state for the last 31 years, Oregon residents have the opportunity to vote in support of Measure 105, which would repeal the law and allow public funds to be used to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.