SUPPORT THE BLUE BOTTLE INDEPENDENT UNION!
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WHO WE ARE
Today, Wednesday April 3, workers at five Blue Bottle Coffee locations in Massachusetts conducted a “March on the Boss” to announce the formation of the Blue Bottle Independent Union (B.B.I.U.). In a letter read aloud directly to management by workers at each of the five stores, and sent via email to the upper-management team, we asked the company to voluntarily recognize our union by or before 12pm EST on Monday, April 8th, and to immediately begin bargaining with us in good faith.
WHY WE ARE UNIONIZING
We are unionizing because Blue Bottle does not pay us enough to meet our basic needs, does not allow us any input into cafe operations, and shows continuous disdain for us as workers. Many of us are working paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to live in the city we work in! As baristas, we are the face of the company and produce Blue Bottle’s value, and yet we struggle to make ends meet despite working full time. For these reasons, we intend to fight for a living wage, democratic control of the workplace, and comprehensive protection from harassment.
In 2017, Nestlé, the multinational corporation with a market capitalization over $270 billion, acquired a majority ownership in Blue Bottle Coffee for over $400 million. While Blue Bottle prides itself on providing high quality specialty coffee and paying fair trade premiums, we as baristas are not paid enough to live in the city we work in. B.B.I.U. intends to hold Blue Bottle and Nestlé to their proclaimed values of social consciousness by fighting for and demanding a living wage! With an undeniable, overwhelming majority of workers at each of the five locations signing union cards, and with the prominent backing of our customers, community members, legal network, union siblings locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, we are ready, willing, and able to fight for and win an equitable share of the value we produce and rightfully deserve.
WHY INDEPENDENT?
We are forming an independent union because we believe that unions run best when they're in the control of rank and file workers. Our independent structure allows us to have direct democratic control of our demands, campaign strategy, finances, and anything else pertaining to the union. In short, we wanted our union to be run by the workers and for the workers.
HOW YOU CAN HELP US WIN
- One of the biggest ways that you can help us is by making either a one-time or recurring donation to this Gofundme for our worker owned and controlled union fund! The funds we raise here will go toward expenses such as printing materials, our website, food, hosting union events, and other common expenses for a union :)
- Signing this petition demanding that Blue Bottle voluntarily recognize us and begin bargaining in good faith!
- Filling out our community supporter form, to stay up-to-date on our campaign and join us for any upcoming actions or events!
- Promoting and circulating information about our campaign, including the above three resources, with your friends, loved ones, colleagues, and comrades.
- Following up on social media @bbiunion!
Organizer
Blue Bottle Independent
Organizer
Jamaica Plain, MA
