Overview
- Roughly 80 unionized workers in Greater Boston and about 35 in the East Bay walked off the job and formed picket lines, with the action set to run through the Thanksgiving weekend.
- The Blue Bottle Independent Union is urging a company-wide boycott as it seeks higher pay and benefits, including a $30-per-hour starting wage in high-cost markets.
- Union leaders allege unfair labor practices and recent firings of prominent organizers, including the union’s treasurer, which the company denies as targeted retaliation.
- Blue Bottle, owned by Nestlé, says it respects union rights and is bargaining in good faith, noting it has responded to economic proposals and reached tentative agreements on some policies.
- The union represents about 120 workers across nine shops nationwide, reports a 92% strike authorization vote, and cites NLRB-protected rights to strike over alleged labor violations.