In latest labor organizing, baristas at Portland's Coffee By Design vote to unionize
File Photo / Tim Greenway
Mary Allen Lindemann, owner of Coffee By Design, said in the media statement, "We will work with Local 327 and our employees to determine the next steps."
Baristas at Coffee By Design's three Portland coffeehouses announced Tuesday that they plan to form a union.
Employees said 89% of the retail workforce has signed cards authorizing Local 327 of the Laborers' International Union of North America to represent them.
"Our success is Coffee By Design's success," said Lauren Gamble, a barista and shift lead. "We're banding together to ensure the long-term viability of our being able to continue to serve the best customers in Maine. Fairness, consistency and predictability shouldn't be a whole lot to ask for when it comes to being able to have the tools necessary to provide our customers the experience they want and deserve."
The retail workers have cited industry-low pay and uneven hours, which have led to inconsistent benefits, an ad-hoc disciplinary system and substandard working conditions as reasons for forming a union.
"The free and fair choice to form a union shouldn't be up for debate," said barista Valen Doe. "With so many of us standing in solidarity for a better, more collaborative way forward, we trust that the ownership and management will see that working together is far more efficient and cost-effective than the alternative. Either way, with our unified voice being amplified by the power of the Laborers' union, I like our chances."
Workers have also requested a voluntary recognition of a union. If that doesn't occur, they will take their fight to the ballot box.
“The teamwork, solidarity, courage and raw power being demonstrated by these workers is inspiring,” said Jason J. Shedlock, regional organizer and secretary-treasurer of LIUNA Local 327. “Working with them, two thoughts immediately come to mind: one, I can see why customers love them so much; their care, attention and authenticity is contagious. And two, they are curious, creative, smart and tough, so I’m awfully glad they are sitting on my side of the table!”
Coffee By Design is headquartered in Portland, where it runs coffeehouses at 1 Diamond St., 67 India St. and 620 Congress St. The business is owned and led by Mary Allen Lindemann, who co-founded the business with Alan Spear in 1994. In 2005 both were recognized as Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year, and Lindemann was named a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2019.
In the past, Lindemann has had a progressive stance on many business issues, but in 2022, she was a vocal opponent of the referendum which would have increased Portland's minimum wage to $18.
Next steps
In response to questions about the labor initiative, Lindemann said this week that the company supports the rights of employees to organize and she has worked hard to offer competitive wages and benefits.
"Through this process, we want to make sure that the voices of all our employees are heard," Lindemann said in the media statement. "We will work with Local 327 and our employees to determine the next steps, which will include submission of the authorization cards to an impartial third party. Once Local 327 is certified as the bargaining agent, we are prepared to begin good-faith negotiations on a contract that protects our employees and the long-term viability of Coffee By Design."
Labor organizing is on the rise in Maine and nationwide, and unions have formed at social service organizations, Maine Medical Center, the Portland Museum of Art and at least one coffeehouse in Maine.
Coffee By Design announced last Friday that it was temporarily closing its Congress Street location because of a staff shortage. In a Facebook post, Coffee By Design said it needs time to hire and train additional staff to reopen with an entire team.
"Fortunately, we are able to offer the current Congress Street staff hours at our India Street and Diamond Street coffeehouses in the meantime," said the social media post. "We've been running on steam and doing our best, but we need more folks so the ones we have aren't stretched too thin and can take days off. "
The company also had a retail location inside L.L.Bean's flagship store in Freeport, but closed the shop in advance of a major revamp of the campus. Coffee By Design also operates a roastery at its Diamond Street location, and has 650 wholesale customers worldwide.
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