Portillo’s warehouse workers vote to unionize

Employees at a Portillo’s warehouse in the western suburb of Addison have voted to unionize, the first at any of the company’s facilities to do so. On April 13, a majority of the employees – 28 out of 49 – voted in favor of unionizing.

Workers at the Addison location will become a part of the Iron Workers Union if the vote is certified. According to the National Labor Relations Board, Portillo’s has a week to object to the vote; if no objections are made, results will be made official.

Portillo’s, a Chicagoland staple, is best known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. The company has expanded locations in recent years both in and outside of the Chicago region. The Addison facility serves over 40 of the company’s Chicago-area restaurants.

Organization efforts began at the Portillo's Addison facility in 2021, with workers facing low wages, unsafe working conditions, and staffing shortages in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees partnered with worker’s advocacy group Arise Chicago and staged a week-long strike in July 2021.

In a major step for the unionization initiative, workers are hoping for a contract promising better wages, vacation time, paid sick days, and benefits.