All Eight Workers at Portland Holy Donut Submit Formal Union Request

All eight employees at The Holy Donut’s Park Avenue location, 194 Park Ave., Portland, submitted a written request to management to unionize on March 6, 2026, organizers said, with lead organizers Justin Gross and Lauren Gamble driving the push. Gross said the staff wants direct fixes, saying, “We just want to be heard, and we just want things to be fixed.”

The workers published an open letter and delivered a written request laying out specific grievances that include “Low wages; Deceitful communication from ownership and management; Unsafe and unhealthy conditions; Unfair labor practices; Denying our right to discuss our working conditions and benefits; Lack of benefits.” In the letter the employees framed their goals: they said they are organizing to secure safe and healthy working conditions, fair wages and reliable scheduling, reasonable workloads and staffing levels, access to benefits and job security, respect and dignity on the job, the right to discuss pay and benefits, and a transparent and equitable grievance process.

Gross provided concrete examples of the pressure staff say they face: he said he makes about 75 cents above Portland’s minimum wage and that some employees are working more than 70 hours a week while still struggling to make ends meet. He also said health and safety concerns have been raised repeatedly over the past “nine or ten months,” adding, “There have been several health and safety issues for us as workers that we've brought to management over the past nine or ten months consistently, and they haven't been handling it.” Workers alleged they have been told not to discuss conditions in the customer-facing area: “We've been told to stop talking about conditions or benefits in the front because it creates a negative work environment.”

The organizing effort included public outreach and a request for community support. The open letter directed people to the workers’ Instagram account, holydonutworkers, and warned, “Unfortunately, someone reported our email account and got it disabled! If you could please direct your responses to our Instagram page!” The eight signatories represent the entire Park Avenue staff, organizers said.

Owners pushed back, posting on social media that they “must also firmly address and deny the allegations of illegal activity or labor law violations that have been circulated,” and stating, “These claims do not align with our behaviors, our values, our mission statement, or our long-standing history as a fair and ethical employer. We have and will remain fully committed to following all labor laws and ensuring that every member of our team feels safe, supported and heard.” CEO Jeff Buckwalter, in an email to media, called the allegations “categorically false,” while also saying the company respects employees’ right to explore representation.

Labor leaders in Maine say the Holy Donut drive fits a broader pattern. Andy O’Brien, communications director for the Maine AFL-CIO, said, “We've definitely seen an uptick in organizing, especially in Portland at small cafes and restaurants,” and cautioned that “it's a very challenging sector to organize and come to a consensus in because of high turnover and things like that.” For now, the Park Avenue staff has formally asked management for recognition and set public channels for support, while owners maintain they will follow labor law as the dispute moves forward.