The indie coffee scene is brewing up some serious labor drama, and we’re here for all the steamy details.

Verve Coffee workers are fighting back against corporate coffee culture with a bold unionization move that’s got everyone talking. Around 60 baristas across San Francisco and Santa Cruz locations are taking a stand against what they describe as a toxic workplace environment riddled with pay disparities, inconsistent scheduling, and a major lack of corporate transparency.

The Grind Behind the Grind

The workers didn’t mince words in their statement, calling out the company’s hypocrisy: “We joined Verve because of the ideals you claim to stand for: community, collaboration, and mutual respect”. Translation? They’re not here for performative corporate wokeness.

More Than Just Beans

This isn’t just about better wages - it’s about workers demanding dignity. The unionization effort covers cafes in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, with plans to expand to other locations. Meanwhile, the city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement is already auditing Verve for potential violations of health care benefit regulations.

Corporate Accountability Check

Verve recently added a 5% surcharge on orders supposedly for “employee benefits,” but many part-time workers aren’t seeing those perks. With an estimated annual revenue exceeding $62 million, these workers are essentially saying: show us the money - and the respect.

As labor movements continue to gain momentum in the Bay Area, Verve Coffee might want to take notes from their own mission statement about “collaboration” and “mutual respect”. Stay caffeinated, stay organized, folks.