Unionized Workers At Peet's Coffee Locations Set To Close Demand Fair Severance And Transfer Rights – CoffeeTalk

Workers at Peet’s Coffee on Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way held a rally outside their store on Sunday, seeking a fair severance package and the right to transfer after the announcement of the store’s closure set for Friday. This closure is part of a larger decision affecting nearly 30 Peet’s Coffee locations across cities including San Francisco, Davis, San Diego, and Chicago, with no transfer opportunities for employees. According to barista and union delegate Dino Solis, workers with over six months of service will receive only a week-long severance package.

The impending closure brings emotional distress, particularly for Solis, who has been with Peet’s for nine years and has built strong connections with customers and colleagues. The workers met with Peet’s Coffee lawyers and a human resources representative last Thursday to lobby for better severance and transfer rights, with another meeting scheduled before the store’s closure.

Despite the closing stores, Peet’s Coffee has not disclosed official numbers or provided explanations for the closures, which have left employees feeling uncertain. Hex Duncan, another barista, expressed the significant loss felt within the community due to the closure, emphasizing the store’s role as a community staple. Duncan also noted a decline in Peet’s quality and standards since being acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper in an $18 billion deal last year, leading to a restructuring within the company and the closure of the only unionized location.

Peet’s Coffee’s email statement attributed the closures to aligning the business with long-term growth and market conditions, promising a dedication to quality and craftsmanship amid innovation. Both Solis and Duncan believe there should be options for transferring the 11 workers from their store, and they expressed a commitment to reapplying to other locations if necessary. The bargaining discussion with the Peet’s Labor Union continues this Wednesday, with a deadline looming as the store prepares for closure, forcing some employees to stay on until February 4 to facilitate the store’s cleaning and closure process.

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