The Portland-based cafe chain Coffee By Design has agreed to voluntarily recognize its staff union. The announcement follows last week's news that 89 percent of CBD employees had signed authorization cards expressing a desire to be represented by Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA). In a joint statement, the company and the union said that once Coffee By Design was presented with independently verified evidence that the majority of its retail workers and baristas had declared their support for the union, they filed the appropriate paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board to voluntarily recognize LIUNA Local 327 as the Baristas’ collective bargaining agent and to commence contract negotiations immediately.
“This is the way it’s supposed to work. I’m pleased that the management team at Coffee By Design has agreed that our collective energy is best used to work together towards a fair and equitable first collective bargaining agreement," said Regional Organizer and Secretary-Treasurer of Local 327 Jason J. Shedlock in a statement. "With the buy-in of ownership, worker solidarity and public support, we look forward to continuing that collaborative approach to move forward with a structure that ensures 30 more years of worker-powered and customer-focused success at Coffee By Design. I personally want to thank Ms. Lindemann and her team for their foresight and partnership as we navigate this process together."
Coffee By Design Owner Mary Allen Lindemann released the following statement:
"I'm proud of Coffee By Design's long-standing commitment to Maine. We have always said a great cup of coffee changes lives, and viewed our coffee, and our business, as a catalyst for positive change and solidarity. It is in keeping with this philosophy and our long-demonstrated commitment to our employees that we will work with the Laborers' Union in support of our retail baristas.
Ultimately, Coffee By Design would not be here today without the support of many - our farm partners who grow the coffee, our retail baristas who serve the coffee, our loyal customers who choose to purchase our coffee, and our award-winning Roastery team, which treats the coffee with the care it deserves. Solidarity within our community and our workplace supports the people who have chosen to call Maine home and that ethos is central to our success. Together, we look forward to a bright future."