Workers voted in a union at Afuri Ramen. Potbelly could be next.

At downtown restaurant Afuri Ramen + Dumpling, workers voted 16-0 Jan. 13 to join the newly formed Restaurant Workers of Portland union. 

Afuri is a popular Japanese restaurant at 50 SW 3rd Ave. Workers there launched a union campaign in November, announcing that they want wage increases and safety improvements. Now, a bargaining unit of 20 workers has union representation. It’s the first win for Restaurant Workers of Portland, which launched along with the Afuri campaign. But the organization is already seeking to grow: On Jan. 12, workers at downtown Portland’s Potbelly Sandwich Shop filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to join the union. The petition covers all 13 non-management workers at the restaurant’s Pioneer Square location, 802 SW 6th Ave. The NLRB has not yet set an election date.