She Wolf Bakery Workers Rallied for New Contract
Employees at the Brooklyn bakery demanded higher wages and healthcare after two years of stalled negotiations.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Unions
Live Poll
Should employers be required to remain neutral during their employees' unionization campaigns?
Workers at She Wolf Bakery held a protest outside the company's Navy Yard facility to demand progress on their first collective bargaining agreement. Staff have been pushing for a new contract since voting to join the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union in February 2024.
Why it matters
The rally highlights a growing tension over labor conditions at Marlow Collective properties, with employees asserting that management has failed to address critical wage and benefit needs. Eight local elected officials have joined the effort by calling on leadership to meet the union's core demands.
The union is seeking a $21 hourly minimum wage and inclusion in the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union healthcare plan. This follows a February 2024 authorization vote of 17-5 and comes after two years of stalled negotiations.
The players
She Wolf Bakery
This Brooklyn-based bakery operates under the Marlow Collective and moved its production facilities to the Navy Yard in 2025.
Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union
This labor organization represents the employees at She Wolf Bakery in their ongoing contract negotiations.
Marlow Collective
This group owns She Wolf Bakery and manages multiple properties across the Brooklyn area.
The details
The workers are advocating for seniority bonuses and a commitment to union neutrality across all Marlow Collective properties. Management recently submitted a final contract offer that reportedly excluded these four primary demands, prompting the recent demonstration.
Timeline
January 2024 marked the initial announcement of the unionization petition.
February 2024 saw workers vote 17-5 to join the union.
September 18, 2026, was the date of the rally at the Navy Yard.
Political Context
The union is contending with a management structure that critics argue is stalling the bargaining process, leading to a divide between ownership and local representatives. Opposition from management highlights a broader clash over the pace of adopting union contracts in the local service industry.
The labor dispute currently does not impact daily retail pricing or product availability for customers visiting the bakery. However, future contract resolutions could lead to operational shifts if management chooses to adjust staffing models to meet union wage demands.
The takeaway
Ongoing labor tensions at the bakery reflect a wider struggle for standardized wages and benefits in the food service sector. Readers can monitor local labor board filings to track whether these bargaining sessions move toward a finalized agreement.
Further reading
Learn more about local labor issues in our Unions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Chief.
Live Poll
Should employers be required to remain neutral during their employees' unionization campaigns?
