Philz Coffee Union Aligns with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5 (UFCW5), North California's Largest Private Sector Union – CoffeeTalk

In 2024, employees at Philz Coffee on Gilman Street in Berkeley formed the company’s first and only union, following incidents where some staff were sent home for wearing pro-Palestine pins. This new union, named Philz Workers United, has aligned with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5 (UFCW5), which is the largest private sector union in Northern California. Union members expressed that this affiliation will empower them with the necessary strength, resources, and solidarity to ensure a lasting voice in the company’s future.

The union’s formation came amid concerns following the 2025 sale of Philz Coffee to a private equity firm, which sparked fears regarding the company’s direction. These anxieties were exacerbated when the CEO instructed stores to remove all Pride flags, a decision that later faced significant public outcry and was ultimately overturned. The successful community effort to reinstate the Pride flags served as motivation for the Philz employees to advance their organizing efforts.

This initiative is part of a larger trend among Bay Area coffee workers, with UFCW5 also representing employees from other local coffee shops, including Highwire Coffee, Verve Coffee, Cat and Cloud Coffee, and Peerless Coffee. The developments at Philz Coffee signify a broader movement aimed at enhancing worker rights and representation within the growing coffee industry in the region.

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