Bobcat Bonnie workers reach agreement with owner to cancel emergency picket

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Fox 2 – An emergency picket by several Bobcat Bonnie workers over layoffs at the Ypsilanti plant has ended.

An agreement has been reached to sever ties with Bobcat Bonnie’s owner Matt Buskard, Bobcat United announced.

“We believe Matt has done his part to improve the situation with Ypsilanti staff, but we encourage him to continue to work to resolve the issues raised in the petition filed on October 7th.

“This is a huge win for food service workers around the world. It’s incredibly rare for a small chain to close and offer severance packages to its employees.”

A group of 11 employees from the temporarily closed Ypsilanti office filed a petition claiming 90 percent of employees signed it, blaming them for unpaid salaries, inconsistent schedules, demands for improved training and “an end to inappropriate comments from management.”

However, Bobcat United is encouraging customers to return.

“We are ending the emergency vigil in Ferndale immediately. We encourage you to continue visiting other locations, tell your staff you support them and as always, tip!!”

Buscard, for his part, also made a statement. He thanked Bobcat United for handling the negotiations in a courteous and professional manner.

Connected: Former Bobcat Bonnie employees speak out after the chain’s Ypsilanti store closes

“Going forward, management and I will listen to all of our employees as we work together to create a fun and engaging dining experience for our guests,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to making a number of changes to Bobcat Bonnie’s restaurants immediately.”