A Peet's Coffee employee fills takeout orders for customers in Oakland, California on May 18, 2020. (Photo: Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
Nov 28, 2022
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
\u201cEmbracing new union siblings, welcome Peet\u2019s Workers United!\u201d— Evan Sunshine (@Evan Sunshine) 1669648311
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
\u201cEmbracing new union siblings, welcome Peet\u2019s Workers United!\u201d— Evan Sunshine (@Evan Sunshine) 1669648311
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."
From Your Site Articles
Galvanized by the remarkable organizing successes of Starbucks employees across the United States, workers at two Peet's Coffee locations in Davis, California filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday in an effort to win higher wages, better working conditions, and a voice in day-to-day shop operations.
"I'm organizing because we deserve a say in how our workplace is run and we deserve to be fairly compensated for the value we create," said Schroedter Kinman, a worker at the Peet's location in downtown Davis. "It's also about having a support system and a set of procedures if we're mistreated by our company."
Workers at the downtown and north Davis locations "have grown tired of the low pay and high-stress demands placed on them by the company," according to More Perfect Union, which first reported the Peet's union push on Monday morning.
"Leaders at the two Peet's stores say that they have near-unanimous buy-in from their co-workers," the outlet added. "Pay begins at the minimum wage level for workers at Peet's, and barely moves upward for those working in the barista position. Opportunities for career advancement are rare, multiple workers told More Perfect Union, and the scheduling process doesn't allow for long-term planning."
\u201cEmbracing new union siblings, welcome Peet\u2019s Workers United!\u201d— Evan Sunshine (@Evan Sunshine) 1669648311
Based in California and owned by JAB Holding Company, Peet's has more than 330 locations across the U.S.--none of which are unionized.
The two Davis locations filed for union elections with the support of Workers United, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate that is representing Starbucks workers at more than 260 organized shops nationwide as they fight for a contract.
In addition to submitting union cards, workers at the two Peet's shops asked management to agree to the Non-Interference Election Principles, which state that "the right to organize a union is a fundamental civil right essential to democracy" and that "if workers choose to unionize, there will be no negative repercussions from management."
From Your Site Articles
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.