Union Strike Forces Closure of Ghirardelli's Historic San Francisco Shop

On Thursday, a group of forty-five workers at Ghirardelli's flagship location on North Point Street in San Francisco walked off the job, calling for a boycott of the famed chocolate shop. The employees, represented by Unite Here Local 2, began a three-day strike demanding transparency about a 6% healthcare surcharge and opposing a shift to a company-run health plan that could increase co-pays. Union members distributed flyers accusing the company of illegal behavior and withholding cost information.

Ghirardelli issued a statement affirming respect for its staff and confirming active contract talks, while two neighboring non-union stores stayed open. The strike is slated to run until Saturday night, with the shop's reopening still uncertain. The dispute highlights tensions over low wages—ranging from $19 to $25 per hour—and affordable health coverage for the workers.