Five Blue Bottle Shops to Unionize in Boston | Eater Boston

"Employees at this Harvard Square shop are part of a roughly 50-person effort across several Boston-area locations to form an independently run union. Workers say pay is insufficient to meet basic needs, many are living paycheck to paycheck, and they lack input into cafe operations; staff also report inadequate training, high manager turnover, apathetic supervisors, facility issues like water leaks, and harassment allegations. The group chose an independent structure to keep direct democratic control over demands, strategy, and finances despite giving up resources that established unions provide, and they have asked the company for voluntary recognition so bargaining can begin immediately; if recognition is refused they plan to seek NLRB certification." - Erika Adams