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A Peet's Coffee employee fills takeout orders for customers in Oakland, California on May 18, 2020. (Photo: Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."