Fact Check

Are Pizza Hut and Papa John's Refusing to Deliver to Striking GM Workers?

Social media users said restaurants in some locations were refusing to deliver to union halls.

Published Sept. 24, 2019

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) who are employed at the General Motors Co. Flint Assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, picket outside of the plant as they strike on September 16, 2019. - The United Auto Workers union began a nationwide strike against General Motors on Monday, with some 46,000 members walking off the job after contract talks hit an impasse. The move to strike, which the Wall Street Journal described as the first major stoppage at GM in more than a decade, came after the manufacturer's four-year contract with workers expired without an agreement on a replacement. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Image Via JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images
Claim:
Pizza Hut and Papa John's are refusing to deliver pizzas to striking GM workers because the companies don't support the union.

Amidst a union strike led by General Motors employees with the United Auto Workers trade union, a rumor spread on Facebook reporting that the Pizza Hut and Papa John's pizza chains were refusing to deliver pies to union halls because those companies did not support the strike:

Aside from the more vaguely-worded post above, some posted messages on Facebook reported that specific store locations had refused to deliver to their respective union halls.

Our phone message and email to Pizza Hut went unanswered, but when we reached out to Papa John's, spokeswoman Lindsay English told us reports that the chain was denying service to striking workers were untrue. English sent a statement that read: "Claims that we refuse to deliver to anyone involved with the ongoing strike is untrue. If the location is within our delivery area, we are happy to deliver, if not, we encourage you to place a carry out order."

We sent an email via UAW to some of the people posting about the rumor on Facebook but haven't yet received any response. According to television station KTVI, the Wentzville, Missouri, pizza shop called Marco's delivered dozens of pizzas to striking workers in a show of support.

About 49,000 GM workers went on strike on September 16, 2019, when contract negotiations between UAW and the corporation floundered. The union is demanding things like better treatment of temporary workers, wages, and benefits for workers. The strike affects 30 plants in nine states.

Sources

LaReau, Jamie L.   "It's the No. 1 Contract Request from Workers — And GM, UAW Can't Agree on It."     Detroit Free Press.   24 September 2019.

Stelloh, Tim and Rachel Elbaum.   "Tens of Thousands of General Motors Auto Workers Go on Strike."     NBC News.   16 September 2019.

Kormann, Katie.   "Local Pizza Store Owner Aids Striking Wentzville GM Workers."     KTVI.   16 September 2019.

Krisher, Tom.   "GM Strike in 2nd Week: Some Progress But No End in Sight."     Associated Press.   23 September 2019.

Bethania Palma is a journalist from the Los Angeles area who started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and has covered everything from crime to government to national politics. She has written for ... read more