January 2026 update
Hello BBIU baristas,
Our bargaining team met with company representatives on January 28 and 29, continuing our fight for a strong contract.
Following our multi-day strike in November, our bargaining team entered the session prepared to make significant movement on economic proposals, including wages. Instead, the company forced discussion on Management’s Rights and a “No Strikes” clause for the majority of our two day bargaining session.
Takeaways:
The company refused to discuss any proposals aside from management rights or no strikes.
The company insultingly offered a 25 cent raise only for East Bay stores, contingent upon there being no other wage increases for the East Bay for the first year of our contract.
When our bargaining team attempted to ask clarifying questions about management rights, the company’s representatives stormed out of the session like children
We are still negotiating with the company over the reinstatement of Abbey, Nora, and Ashley.
While we did not walk away from the session with concessions from the company, we should still view our November strike as a success in building power on the shop floor. To move our intransigent employer, we will need to build on our power and build up participation within our union!
The company throws us a red herring
Insultingly, the company did offer an immediate wage increase of 25 cents for East Bay employees, contingent upon agreement to limit any wage increase for East Bay employees to that amount for the first year of our contract. Needless to say, we didn’t feel that this would satisfy unit member needs enough to sign an agreement on this, nor did we appreciate the attempt to sow division between the two cities we represent. Their proposal is linked below.
A photo of the company’s 25 cent offer for the East Bay. Doodles courtesy of a bargaining team member.
Our priority: Livable wages
The company’s priority: Management rights
The company refused to provide the union with a good faith economic proposal until the union commits to an overbroad “management rights” and “no strikes” clause in the contract. As we’ve mentioned in previous bargaining updates, the company’s proposals on both topics are so overbroad that they would give the employer unilateral control over virtually all terms of employment for the life of the contract.
Were the union to agree to the company’s proposals, it would undermine our ability to effectively represent members. Our bargaining team was clear that we needed to see movement on wages before we could meaningfully discuss any potential concession for no strikes.
For reference, the company’s proposed No Strikes clause would prevent the union from being able to take any action during the term of the contract (including boycotts, picketing, flyering, or marching on the boss), and the proposed Management’s Rights clause would severely limit the union’s ability to bargain over an extensive list of potential changes to cafe operations.
When our bargaining team tried to ask the company why they either needed or felt entitled to various items within management’s rights, the company’s representatives stormed out of the room. Like children, they then refused to talk with our bargaining team unless we gave them what they wanted.
While further discussion did eventually follow this incident, ultimately the second day of bargaining did end hours early due to the company being unwilling to discuss any other outstanding proposals.
Updates on reinstatement for fired union organizers
As many of you know, very shortly before our strike in November, three union organizers – Abbey Sadow, Nora Rossi, and Ashley Valenzuela – were terminated for petty and unevenly enforced infractions. When we sat down with the company to demand their reinstatement, the company expressed willingness to negotiate. We have yet to reach an agreement with the company over their reinstatement.
No discipline for tardiness during the snowstorm
The company has stated that it has “no interest” in disciplining employees who were late during last week’s snowstorm on 1/26. Please let a union steward know if management fails to adhere to this!
Proposals
Union 3pm CBA proposal
Union counter offer to “Management rights”
