Tupelo Honey is touted as an Asheville success story. But some workers say that hides a reality of wage cuts and worsening conditions. Now they’re pushing back Above: Tupelo Honey’s original downtown location UPDATE, Jan. 11: Following the public campaign and Blade investigation, wage cuts for Tupelo Honey support staff

Asheville’s food service workers mobilize to demand better conditions, protection for their rights and a share of a booming industry Above: The image of the Asheville Sustainable Restaurant Workforce, designed by Jessi Steelman. On the cold, blustery afternoon of Feb. 23 about 15 people gathered at the West Asheville Public

Concerned about low pay, a lack of benefits and many other problems, a group of local service workers are organizing Above: Image for Asheville Sustainable Restaurant Workforce, used with permission of Jessi Steelman. There are over 20,000 food service workers in the Asheville area, according to the Bureau of Labor