PORTLAND, Maine — Editor's note: The video above was published Oct. 17, 2023.
Baristas at Coffee By Design in Portland have officially unionized.
A news release Wednesday from Local 327 of the Laborer's International Union of North America (LIUNA) announced paperwork has officially been filed by Coffee By Design management to recognize Local 327 as a collective bargaining agent and to begin contract negotiations immediately.
The move comes after workers from all three Coffee By Design locations in Portland announced their intent to unionize on Oct. 17 with representation from LIUNA.
Workers who voted to unionize cited "industry-low pay, uneven hours which lead to inconsistent benefits, an ad-hoc disciplinary system and working conditions that are incongruent with best practices" as reasons for the push, according to a previous news release from LIUNA.
Coffee By Design Owner Mary Allen Lindemann commented on workers' move to unionize.
"I'm proud of Coffee By Design's long-standing commitment to Maine. We have always said a great cup of coffee changes lives, and viewed our coffee, and our business, as a catalyst for positive change and solidarity. It is in keeping with this philosophy and our long-demonstrated commitment to our employees that we will work with the Laborers' Union in support of our retail baristas," Lindemann said in the news release Wednesday. "Ultimately, Coffee By Design would not be here today without the support of many - our farm partners who grow the coffee, our retail baristas who serve the coffee, our loyal customers who choose to purchase our coffee, and our award-winning Roastery team, which treats the coffee with the care it deserves. Solidarity within our community and our workplace supports the people who have chosen to call Maine home and that ethos is central to our success. Together, we look forward to a bright future."
Regional Organizer and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 327 Jason Shedlock released a statement in response to the unionization effort that said, in part:
"This is the way it’s supposed to work. I’m pleased that the management team at Coffee By Design has agreed that our collective energy is best used to work together towards a fair and equitable first collective bargaining agreement. With the buy-in of ownership, worker solidarity and public support, we look forward to continuing that collaborative approach to move forward with a structure that ensures 30 more years of worker-powered and customer-focused success at Coffee By Design."