Blue Bottle Coffee, the upscale coffee chain, just fired Camden Castillo, a California barista and union leader, in the company’s latest round of retaliatory union-busting.
Here’s what went down: after Bay Area baristas elected their local union leadership in February, those leaders suddenly found themselves under newfound scrutiny as management started writing them up for petty infractions, in what the union recognizes as clear retaliation for organizing.
Camden was one of those leaders. Management clearly targeted him with petty so-called violations. Then, Blue Bottle broke its commitment to negotiate disciplines with the union, and fired Camden for clocking in one minute late.
Blue Bottle Independent Union swiftly filed unfair labor practice charges and gave Blue Bottle until Friday to reinstate Camden. Spoiler alert: that didn’t happen.
Management thinks they can push the union around, and retaliate against our organizing. If you’ve ever been unfairly targeted at work, stand with striking Blue Bottle workers and send a message: No justice, no labor!
In Solidarity,
The Labor Force