My name is Alex Pyne, and I am the president of Blue Bottle Independent Union (BBIU). I’m writing to you as we face a critical moment in our two year fight for a first contract.
Last week, our membership overwhelmingly voted to authorize an open-ended strike if Blue Bottle refuses to finalize a strong contract. 84% of our members voted in favor of authorizing a strike because we cannot afford to live on the $18/hour that Blue Bottle pays us.
Our fight so far: Since April 2024, our 100+ members across Boston and East Bay-area Blue Bottle Coffee locations have been negotiating for a livable wage and democratic workplace. After going on a five day strike back in November, which could not have happened without the incredible support of the Labor Force community, our bargaining team has won significant concessions.
Some of the concessions we’ve won from Blue Bottle include just cause for discipline, the ability to take unpaid time off, transparency for tips, and more consistent schedules. But we’re still fighting for key improvements to baristas’ lives, like:
We’re fighting for:
- Livable wages, including a $26 starting wage (vs. employer’s refusal to offer any wage increase)
- Fair workweek policies consistent with what Blue Bottle offers other cities
- Wage increases that keep pace with cost of living
Our union has fought hard and come far–and we’re confident that if we keep fighting, we will win a fair contract. Right now, building up our strike fund is the most critical thing we can do to win.
A full strike fund will allow our union to do what every employer fears the most: affect the company’s bottom line by withholding their labor if Blue Bottle refuses to sit down and negotiate in good faith.
Thank you for standing with Blue Bottle baristas and supporting our strike fund.
Solidarity,
Alex Pyne
President, Blue Bottle Independent Union