Baristas at Peet’s Coffee on 1441 NE Broadway in Portland have voted to join the Portland branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). In a strong show of support, employees cast a unanimous 11-0 vote in favor of unionization during an election held October 23-24 at the café. This marks the fifth victory in the IWW’s ongoing efforts to organize Peet’s Coffee workers, following similar successes at four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The drive for unionization began in February after management introduced new policies that employees found unpopular, notably the decision to eliminate annual wage increases unless mandated by the state’s minimum wage.
Founded in California in 1966, Peet’s Coffee has since grown into a national chain with 287 locations, the majority of which are based on the West Coast, including 227 in California. Over the past two years, the company has expanded internationally, opening more than 200 stores in China. The Northeast Broadway location is the only corporate-owned Peet’s in Portland, though the city is home to five additional locations in surrounding suburbs.
Despite their success in organizing, workers at Peet’s locations in the Bay Area are still negotiating their first contract.
Barista Cole Franko expressed pride in the unionization effort, stating, “It feels good to stand up and have a voice in the face of disrespect. We deserve better wages, reasonable schedules, and respect as the valuable members of our community that we are.”