Workers at Peet’s Coffee at the West Covell Boulevard location in Davis rallied with supporters outside the first Peet’s in the country to join a union. The crowd chanted: “No Justice. No Peet’s.” “I love my job and the community and I didn’t want to leave it,” said employee Rivad Tal.Tal and several of the 15 employees who unionized with Services. Employees International Union 1021 spoke at the enthusiastic rally. They explained why they fight for fair wages, differentiated hours and business transparency. “It was a moment where I realized how greedy the company was — the audacity to give me 10 cents when they made $983 million in 2022 was shocking,” Tal said. Shift leader Alyx Land said inflation and the pandemic have made it hard to live on the current wages Peet’s pays employees. The baristas have the support of the community and some elected leaders, who also spoke at the rally. “We’re going to send a strong message to management and the company that we’re going to stand behind the members of Peet’s united 110 percent,” said Yolo County Supervisor Angel Barajas. Union leaders such as SEIU Vice President Akbar Bibb said young workers will need their coffee boost to stay sharp and continue the fight. He said it’s just the beginning. “Courage and just saying ‘enough is enough’ and standing your ground against the opposition and wanting better working conditions,” Akbar Bibb said. In a statement to KCRA 3 News, Peet’s, which began in Berkeley in 1966, said, “Peet’s has worked in good faith with all parties involved and expected another outcome, we respected the right of our Davis employees to choose. Initially, two of our Davis locations petitioned to unionize Last week the union withdrew its petition to represent the downtown Davis cafeteria Our North Davis location chose another path As we pursue the next legally required steps with the union At North Davis, we will continue to work for and with our employees across the company. That’s the Peet way.” Peet’s employees said they received advice and help from recently unionized Starbucks employees. Peet’s employees earn between $25,000 and $39,000 a year, depending on the job.
Workers at Peet’s Coffee at the West Covell Boulevard location in Davis rallied with supporters outside the first Peet’s in the country to join a union.
The crowd chanted: “No Justice. No Peet’s.”
“I love my job and the community and I didn’t want to leave it,” said employee Rivad Tal.
Tal and several of the 15 employees who formed the union with Service Employees International Union 1021 spoke at the enthusiastic rally. They explained why they fight for fair wages, differentiated hours and business transparency.
“It was a moment where I realized how greedy the company was — the audacity to give me 10 cents when they made $983 million in 2022 was shocking,” Tal said.
Shift leader Alyx Land said inflation and the pandemic have made it hard to live on the current wages Peet’s pays employees.
The baristas have the support of the community and some elected leaders, who also spoke at the rally.
“We’re going to send a strong message to management and the company that we’re going to stand behind the members of Peet’s united 110 percent,” said Yolo County Supervisor Angel Barajas.
Union leaders such as SEIU Vice President Akbar Bibb said young workers will need their coffee boost to stay sharp and continue the fight. He said it’s just the beginning.
“Courage, and just saying ‘enough is enough’ and standing your ground against the opposition and wanting better working conditions,” Akbar Bibb said.
In a statement to KCRA 3 News, Peet’s, which started in Berkeley in 1966, said:
“Peet’s has worked in good faith with all parties involved and expected another outcome, we respect the right of our Davis employees to choose. Initially, two of our Davis locations petitioned to unionize. Last week, the union withdrew its petition to represent to the downtown Davis cafeteria. Our North Davis location chose another path. As we follow the next legally required steps with the union in North Davis, we will continue to work for and with our employees across the company. That is the Peet’s Way”.
Peet’s employees said they received advice and help from recently unionized Starbucks employees. Peet’s employees earn between $25,000 and $39,000 a year, depending on the job.
