Blue Bottle workers at East Bays four locations have unionized

Blue Bottle workers at four East Bay locations voted 22-5 to join the Blue Bottle Independent Union, becoming the first California sites of the coffee chain to unionize. The election, certified by the National Labor Relations Board, took place following an announcement of intent on June 17. Workers cited high living costs, inconsistent staffing, and lack of healthcare benefits as key reasons for unionizing. They also reported unsafe working conditions, such as unresolved sewage problems at the Berkeley shop. A letter requesting management's acknowledgment of the union was read aloud at all locations, but a staff member who participated was fired shortly after, raising concerns about union-busting.

Alex Reyes, a union member, highlighted a decline in store quality due to management's lack of communication. Following the election, workers are set to enter contract negotiations with the company. The union movement at Blue Bottle reflects broader trends in the coffee industry, where workers at other chains have also organized.