This week, a Charlestown Starbucks and other Blank Street Coffee stores won union elections, marking significant progress in Boston’s cafe unionization drive.
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We just can t keep up : Blank Street baristas to unionize as chain rapidly expands in Boston
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Blue Bottle Coffee union workers walk out over bargaining dispute
According to a news release, the Charlestown Starbucks branch became the 20th in Massachusetts to unionize after the Thompson Square Starbucks employees unanimously decided (9-0) to join Starbucks Workers United. Additionally, the store becomes one of over 600 Starbucks stores nationwide to unionize.
Congratulations to Starbucks employees who recently UNANIMOUSLY decided to unionize at the Charlestown (One Thompson) location in Boston, Massachusetts! It’s summertime!Irx6T pic.twitter.com/SX14k
The announcement coincides with the recent national media attention given to the dispute between Starbucks and Workers United, the labor organization that represents Starbucks employees. According to The New York Times, it appeared that the union and Starbucks were headed toward a pact in 2024 after years of increasing their numbers and winning streaks.
However, the union claimed in a tweet earlier this year that the business had retracted its course. Following the release of a new dress code and their protracted talks, unionized workers have gone on strike and walkout.
According to a tweet from labor union group New England Joint Board UNITE HERE, Boston area employees at the quickly growing, New York-based Blank Street Coffee also won their union election, with 97% of the votes in support of unionization.
With more than 97% of the vote in support of unionization, the workers at Boston’s Blank Street Coffee won their union election today! We cannot be brought down by venture capitalists.#UnionStrong #PeopleOverProfit #UNITEHERE#1upic.twitter.com/LWg2R1iEsd
In May, employees at Boston’s seven sites filed to form a union, citing understaffing and excessive workload in an earlier interview with Boston.com.
Since its founding in Brooklyn, New York, in 2020, the private equity-backed chain—famous for its automated espresso machines—has expanded quickly, which its employees cited as contributing to the issue. Barista Lauryn Lopez of Blank Street Coffee told Boston.com that the Boston locations likewise had poor employee retention.
This week’s union victories are a part of a larger wave of unionization efforts at local coffee shops that has been going on for years. The local union for Nestle-owned Blue Bottle Coffee also garnered media attention in May due to two walkouts: one over the installation of security cameras in stores and another over the dismissal of an employee during protracted contract discussions. Baristas at Pavement Coffeehouse are among the other unionized cafe employees.
For Boston.com, Katelyn Umholtz writes about cuisine and dining establishments. In addition, Katelyn writes a weekly food newsletter called The Dish.
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