Halifax-based Java Blend reaches settlement with union
A long-simmering dispute between a Halifax-based café and coffee roaster and the Service Employees International Union Local 2 (SEIU) arrived at a settlement on Monday.
According to a social media post by SEIU, the union reached the settlement with Java Blend, which will end an ongoing boycott and prompt collective agreement bargaining.
“It feels really awesome,” said Cailen Pygott, a member of the organizing committee for workers at Java Blend. “I feel my whole life for the last year has been building to this.”
Pygott said employees voted on whether or not to form a union at Java Blend a year ago, but the results were not disclosed. As part of the settlement, the votes were shared, revealing 90 per cent of workers agreed to join SEIU.
Last January, SEIU filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint against Java Blend, alleging the termination of nine employees violated the Trade Union Act and was done “in retaliation for organizing a union” in the workplace.
At the time, Alex Lee, one of the owners of Java Blend, said the layoffs were a “financial necessity” for the business, which had been struggling since March 2020.
“In response to the complaint filed on January 31st, we had provided the union all our financials as well as working documents outlining our objective criteria for the layoffs,” a statement from Java Blend reads. “We have agreed on a settlement last night and we will approach bargaining with the same transparency. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the union and the employees in good faith to reach a collective agreement.
“Thank you to all who have supported us in different ways over the past difficult years and we look forward to continuing in providing excellent coffees and service."
SEIU organized a boycott of Java Blend in late April. With the settlement, the boycott is over and the labour complaint has been withdrawn.
Pygott said the next step will be the bargaining process, which they hope to start as soon as possible.
“This was a really long journey,” he said. “We had so much solidarity, we kept fighting and we won. We won more than we could have imagined. If we can do that, then anyone in this city and province can do that.
“If you’re any kind of worker and you’re not unionized, we’ve proved it’s possible.”
According to a news release from SEIU, the union's bargaining unit includes Java Blend cafés on North and Sackville streets, the production and roastery warehouse on Borden Avenue in Dartmouth, and the Cortado Tasting Room in Bedford.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police find bag carried by gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, say he likely fled NYC on bus
Investigators found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said Friday, following a massive sweep to find it in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called 'The Ramble.'
A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre
Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his 30 years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin.
Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public
Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks.
Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog
WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.
'Home Alone' house up for sale for US$3.8 million in Chicago suburb – but not the one you're thinking of
Social media sleuths noticed that the house next door to the iconic 'Home Alone' house in Winnetka is now up for sale.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
Did daily cannabis use go up after Canada legalized it?
Health Canada says daily cannabis use has remained stable since it was legalized in 2018.