Talking Headz is a well known salon where many queer, trans, and POC clients have found safety and community. The staff have been at the heart of creating a space where various marginalized people can finally feel happy, safe, and comfortable with their salon experience. Many who have vocalized they have never felt heard or accepted in a salon until sitting in their chairs. Recently, it was made public that they have been working in unfair, underpaid, unsafe, and even sometimes illegal conditions. They have attempted to negotiate with the owner and come to a resolution rewarding their requests, but she has made attempts to silence them and erase them from the salon instead of simply working with her staff to improve the salon for the entire community. 

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the striking members of Talking Headz salon. By signing this we are calling on Heather Deforrest to:

1. Meet with workers in good faith.

2. Address their concerns with transparency and fairness.

3. Create an environment where both staff and clients can thrive.

The community is watching, and we are united in our support for these workers.

Their requests: 

1) Improve material conditions at the salon and CLOSE if conditions are not habitable or lawful, until resolved. 

Not having running water, A/C or proper ventilation, barbicide, or having water seeping up from the floorboards while we remain open, are all absolutely unacceptable. Proper, functioning electrical and proper pest control.

2) Better care for Biggie. 

Biggie is the heart of the salon and deserves more attentive care, wet food, proper grooming, spending nights out of the salon, and a retirement plan.

3) Heather must engage in sensitivity and diversity training. 

All of the striking workers are queer, trans, and/or POC. Many of us have had ongoing concerns about internal biases, ignorant comments, and microaggressions. We desire a work environment that is truly competent and supportive, not just the image of allyship. We are the reason for Talking Headz' reputation as a queer, alternative, welcoming salon. We should be able to feel that our boss wholeheartedly has our back in that. Supposed allyship, laced with microaggressions and misgendering, is nothing.

4) Use furniture and supplies appropriate for the commercial environment and wear. 

Service equipment and infrastructure BEFORE it breaks down. Sinks should not be constantly clogging and backing up without meaningful remedial action. Stations should not be falling apart due to them being dressers from home furniture websites; items chosen for aesthetic, not for ease or function.

5) Digitize/revamp inventory, and allow management/support staff more control when handling supply needs and ordering. 

The salon has been without necessary supplies (such as Barbicide and bleach) during operating business hours on multiple occasions, causing stress on stylists as well as support staff, leaving them to scramble and leave work to purchase the needed materials. This is unacceptable and prevents us from having safe and reliable conditions and limits our ability to perform consistent services for our clients.

6) Better pay across the board. Higher hourly wages for support staff. 

Consistent tip outs for assistants. Transparency about where commission taken from stylists is going back into the business.

7) Pay for mandatory classes, in accordance with federal law. "29 CFR § 785.27 

General. Attendance at lectures, meetings, training programs and similar activities need not be counted as working time if the following four criteria are met:

(a) Attendance is outside of the employee's regular working hours;

(b) Attendance is in fact voluntary;

(c) The course, lecture, or meeting is not directly related to the employee's job; and

(d) The employee does not perform any productive work during such attendance.”

8) Install laundry machines at the salon. Support staff shortages can be improved by them not having to leave multiple times a day to do laundry. To expect support staff to use their own cars or walk heavy loads of laundry in any weather condition is entirely unacceptable.

Thank you for reading and for your support!