On July 13, 2013, a rally of workers and their supporters from a Second Cup coffee outlet in Halifax was held alleging that management had violated Nova Scotia’s Labour Code. Participants alleged that three employees were fired for backing an attempt to form a union. A spokesperson from Local 2 of the Service Employees International Union said that six Second Cup workers would form a bargaining unit. “The goal in the end is to have a larger bargaining unit in Halifax”.
In June, workers and management at the Just Us coffee co-operative on Spring Garden Road agreed on a plan to unionize. This came after a disagreement over an allegation of employees being fired there which resulted in a complaint being filed with the labour relations board. The same union will represent both employee groups.
According to one media report, a national union has stated that coffee workers in Halifax are leading a push to unionize in what could serve as a model for baristas elsewhere in Canada. Workers are staying in these jobs longer and they are looking for a more structured work schedule, more security, and the perception that they are not just valueless workers.
Amery Boyer
The Human Element, just a different way to manage
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- Nova Scotia to increase access to pregnancy/parental leave in 2015 - September 17, 2013
The typical response to stories like these is “why do people working as [insert low-paying position] need a union?” However, as lucrative positions in our economy shrink it makes perfect sense. If your best employment prospects for the next two years involve pouring coffees you may as well try and get a decent wage and predictable conditions of employment.