

Delivery drivers receive $5 per hour supplemented by tips received on deliveries. The standard salary of a baker or cashier is $9 per hour, according to the Insomnia Cookies Website. Peña, who worked at the Harvard Square Insomnia for only three days before striking, said the average turnover rate for employees is two to three weeks, likely due to low wages and poor working conditions. Insomnia officials could not be reached for comment. Members of the Industrial Workers of the World union, which has been involved with the Insomnia Cookies controversy since the protest at the Harvard location, also joined the crowd on Thursday. Peña and three other striking workers were dismissed after the strike. 19, where workers voiced frustration over a lack of employee benefits and failure of the company to ensure adequate breaks, Peña said. The dissatisfaction that prompted the protest began with an employee strike at the Harvard Square location on Aug. and offers a delivery service of cookies, milk and other baked goods until 3 a.m. Insomnia Cookies operates at more than 30 locations across the eastern U.S. Members of BU’s Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism and Student Labor Action Project were present at the rally. store location to voice complaints against the entire Insomnia Cookies organization.

Student activists, union members and other supporters joined Peña at the 708 Commonwealth Ave. “We decided to go on strike for benefits, unionizing the store and higher pay wages,” said Insomnia Cookies ex-employee Jonathan Peña. PHOTO BY SARAH FISHER/DAILY FREE PRESS STAFFĪ crowd gathered Thursday outside of the Insomnia Cookies on the Boston University Charles River Campus to protest low wages, poor working conditions and union formation suppression at the business chain. College of Communication junior Lindsay Kopit holds a sign during a protest against Insomnia Cookies Friday night in front of the Insomnia Cookies shop on Commonwealth Avenue.
