A group of leftist coffee house workers in Philadelphia are outraged after their plan to unionize backfired.
On Tuesday, more than 30 employees of the small Philadelphia-based specialty coffee chain OCF Coffee House shops were told they are now out of work after an abrupt closure of the business.
The workers lost their jobs after they announced their intention to unionize and join Workers United Local 80.
The union has been active in organizing workers at coffee shops in the Philadelphia market over the past two years.
“We the workers of OCF have demanded recognition of our union from CEO Ori Feibush,” Local 80 wrote on OCF workers’ behalf on Instagram.
“Today we stand strong together prepared to fight for our voice at work.
“Stay tuned as we prepare for next steps!!”
Citing legal costs associated with a new unionization effort, the owner of OCF Coffee House announced the closure of all three locations.
“We wanted better pay and stability and part-time health benefits, not only full-time,” said former employee, Stephanie Slaughter.
The now out-of-work employees were stunned that their plan to unionize backfired.
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In a letter to employees and patrons, the owner of OCF Coffee House, Ori Feibush, said rising costs and reduced sales led to the decision to close all three of his locations.
He also pointed to administrative and legal costs associated with the staff’s desire to organize.
Feibush hosted a poorly attended non-mandatory staff meeting on Monday.
By 4 p.m., staffers received an email that all three coffee shops were shuttered, effective immediately.
“Very, very disheartening,” said Ava Alabiso.
“We didn’t even start negotiating.
“They didn’t even ask what we were looking for before he shut down.
“Leaving all of us in a lurch, via email”
OCF Coffee has been open in Philadelphia neighborhoods for 13 years.
The company says it will continue to provide health, vision, and dental benefits to employees for the next 3 months.
However, the former employees are now demanding severance pay.
In an announcement attributed to the OCF Coffee House Team, the company said:
“Throughout the years, our passion for creating a welcoming and warm space in our neighborhoods has driven us forward, despite operating at a loss.
“We pushed forward because we understood the positive impact we were making in our communities and the importance of maintaining a level of compensation and benefits (health, vision, dental, life, matching 401k) that each staff member deserved.”
According to public records, OCF Coffee House is part of a larger real estate brokerage and development company owned by Feibush called OCF Realty.
The OCF coffee shops were in the Fairmont, Rittenhouse, and Point Breeze neighborhoods.
Local 80, meanwhile, has led other Philly unionization pushes at Ultimo Coffee, ReAnimator Coffee, Elixr Coffee, Bluestone Lane (Philadelphia locations), and more.
The union has led strikes, walkouts, and other efforts at the coffee houses.
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