{"id":420022,"date":"2026-07-31T21:58:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T21:58:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/420022\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T21:58:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T21:58:58","slug":"san-franciscos-ghirardelli-chocolate-shop-closed-due-to-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/420022\/","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco\u2019s Ghirardelli chocolate shop closed due to strike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tourists traveling to San Francisco<\/a> planning to stop by the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate<\/a> & Ice Cream Shop for some sweet treats might find themselves disappointed.<\/p>\n

Forty-five workers at the flagship store on North Point Street called on visitors to boycott the must-see tourist attraction in the city and walked off the job Thursday.<\/p>\n

Union workers<\/a> at the original shop \u2014 represented by the Unite Here Local 2 union \u2014 are on a three-day strike over costs surrounding healthcare coverage.<\/p>\n

Tourists traveling to San Francisco planning to stop by the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream shop for some sweet treats will find the original store closed. Gado via Getty Images<\/p>\n

On the picket line, workers handed out flyers that read \u201cGreedy Ghirardelli breaks the law,\u201d calling for a boycott of the original shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile proposing to cut workers they are refusing to disclose how much they receive from a 6% healthcare fee they charge customers,\u201d a flyer on social media<\/a> from the union read.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThey refuse to give us that information,\u201d Diego Huerta, a cashier, told KTVU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Union workers at the original shop are on a three-day strike over how much they have to pay for healthcare coverage. Jessica Christian\/San Francisco Chronicle via AP<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to take away our healthcare and they\u2019re not willing to be transparent about how they pay for the healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n

A closed sign could be seen on the door of the original shop which is represented by union employees. Two nearby stores in the square-that do not have union workers-remain open.<\/p>\n

The company said in a statement it values and respects its employees and \u201cthe important contributions they make to Ghirardelli.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently in active contract negotiations with the union and are committed to bargaining in good faith. Our main focus right now is on reaching an agreement that supports our employees and ensures the long-term success of our business,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are currently in active contract negotiations with the union and are committed to bargaining in good faith,\u201d the company said. Gado via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The union said they are currently offering their workers a healthcare plan, but the company wants that to change and bring employees under their own plan.<\/p>\n

Union rep Sonya Karable said if this happens, \u201cworkers will have higher co-pays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now when they go to the emergency room they\u2019re paying $50. And that means it could go up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

On top of all that, workers say with their low wages they can\u2019t afford to pay more for healthcare, with workers earning between $19 and $25 an hour.<\/p>\n

The three-day strike is expected to last until Saturday night at 10 p.m. \u2014 no word yet on when the shop will reopen. The original shop was founded by Domingo Ghirardelli in the heart of San Francisco in 1852, per the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The iconic spot has been a popular one for decades with millions of tourists making Ghirardelli Square a can\u2019t-miss destination when they come to the city by the Bay, per NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Post reached out to the company and union for more information.<\/p>\n

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