Management at the unionized branches of Peet’s Coffee, a chain of coffee stores in the U.S.A, have been engaged in stonewalling and union busting against the Peet’s Labor Union. This has recently escalated with disciplinary actions taken against seven Fellow Workers as well as the firing of Fellow Worker Deya.
The Wobbly 7 received final warnings in autumn late last year. These warnings related
to union actions taken on October 10, 2024. On that day, union members showed up
at a Peet’s Store to support a worker at a disciplinary hearing. None of the workers that
received subsequent “final warnings” had any previous disciplinary measures taken
against them. The final warnings contained no specific allegations or put forth any
evidence that fellow workers had violated Peet’s Coffee policies.
The union filed grievances for union busting with Peet’s Coffee corporate, only to be
told that grievances will not be considered until negotiations start. This leaves the
Fellow Workers facing a stonewalling management, unwilling to negotiate, but willing
to engage in heavy doses of union busting.
Fellow Worker Deya, one of the Wobbly 7 and a prominent organizer, has now been
fired. Peet’s Coffee terminated Deya for breaching a policy which is often ignored by
management. Deya failed to inform a manager that she was alone in the store while
waiting for another store opener to arrive. This situation happens frequently. Due to
being given her final warning as part of the Wobbly 7, this minor breach has been used
as justification to terminate Deya.
I.W.W WISE-RA condemns union busting in the strongest terms. Fellow Worker Deya
and the Wobbly 7 have been targeted for demanding a fair wage and a decent
workplace. We stand with them, and everyone at Peet’s Labor Union, as Fellow
Workers in the struggle against bosses who would rather see us out on the street than
pay us what we are owed. We know that things resonate across the oceans. When
bosses and owners get away with this in one place and time, they will feel emboldened
to do it elsewhere and more often. Peet’s Labor Union are facing their bosses. But they
do so as part of a larger battle. One against the employing and owning classes. Their
victories and setbacks impact us as part of the same struggle. I.W.W WISE-RA is ready
to help the Fellow Workers at Peet’s with whatever they might need from across the
pond.
To get more information and to donate to Peet’s Labor Union’s Fund visit:
https://www.peetslaborunion.org/