Baristas and roastery workers at eight Highwire Coffee locations in the San Francisco Bay Area are now represented by UFCW Local 5 after their employer signed a voluntary recognition agreement on March 5.
The campaign began last August when the 36 workers contacted the union with concerns about wages, staffing levels, and safety issues at their cafes and the roastery. Nearly all the workers signed union authorization cards which ultimately led to the company’s willingness to bargain with UFCW Local 5 on their behalf.
The workers are excited to get to work developing contract proposals in anticipation of beginning the bargaining process in the coming weeks.
“In an industry where ‘high turnover is so the cultural norm,’ it can be challenging for workers to find sustainable solutions,” said Sydnie Conner, who is a barista and a member of the organizing committee. “If we want cafes to exist, we need workers who are treated well enough to maintain them.”
