Tate's Bake Shop In Southampton Is In Seriously Hot Water...

Well this isn't what we would have expected from the beloved local cookie brand.

Tate's Bake Shop, whose familiar green bags of cookies and baked goods can be found stocking shelves across the country, is in seriously hot water after staff members of their quaint Southampton flagship store say they've been threatened with deportation if they unionize. 

According to reports, workers at the company, many of whom are undocumented, had been planning to unionize before the pandemic, but in the wake of COVID, and following a year of inadequate safety and support from the company, efforts ramped up to achieve better conditions.

In response, the company's management allegedly warned workers that if their immigration status wasn't in order they were going to be "sent back," a union delegate told Gothamist.

“People are scared to talk,” said one Tate's employee. “They’re scared to express themselves.”

Originally founded in Southampton in 2000, Tate's was acquired by multinational snack company Mondelez in 2018 for $500 million. 

A spokesperson for Mondelez told News 12 in Long Island, "Any allegation that the company has violated any aspect of the National Labor Relations Act is untrue. Tate's prides itself on treating all its employees with respect, and we have fostered over many years an inclusive, supportive, caring work environment and culture with our employees."

That hasn't stopped Tate's from getting major pushback across social media. Their latest Instagram post has been flooded with comments criticizing management's behavior and expressing support of their workers.