Local News

This high-profile union leader will protest at Meta’s offices in Cambridge. Here’s why.

UAW President Shawn Fain will be joining UNITE HERE Local 26 on Friday.

Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

February 8, 2024

1 minute to read

Shawn Fain, the president of United Auto Workers who lead last year’s high profile auto workers strike, will be joining a local union in front of Meta’s offices in Cambridge on Friday, the union said.

Israeli dining operations company Yarzin Sella took over Meta’s office cafeteria last December, and has since refused to match the workers’ previous union contract, UNITE HERE Local 26 said.

The workers, including line and prep cooks, dishwashers, and servers, have organized protests twice in front of Meta’s office in Kendall Square. On Friday afternoon, they are planning to protest again – with special guest Fain.

Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Their local office is located on Binney Street.

Fain, along with the union, are calling for the cafeteria company to bargain with the union. Without Yarzin Sella adopting the previous contract, more than 20 employees have lost their pension contributions and “face uncertain employment conditions,” the union said.

The union is fighting for comparable wages to Google’s food workers, which are in the same union.

Yarzin Sella did not return a request for comment.