The usefulness of Unions is long past in this day an age. Witness the recent destruction of small coffee shops.
Former employee Stephanie Slaughter expressed frustration, saying, “We wanted better pay and stability and part-time health benefits, not only full-time.” The discontent was palpable as video footage showed out-of-work individuals holding signs and chanting slogans aimed at the owner, Ori Feibush. One of the chants, “Ori, Ori, you can’t hide! We all see your greedy side!” encapsulated their anger.
Last Monday, employees received an abrupt email stating that all three coffee shops were closed effective immediately. Feibush, in a letter to employees and patrons, cited increasing costs and declining sales as the reasons for the closure after 13 years in business. Additionally, he pointed to administrative and legal costs associated with the staff’s efforts to unionize as a contributing factor.
Employees at the OCF Coffee House in Philadelphia voted to unionize.
1 week later, all 3 stores closed down.
Now they’re protesting the closure: pic.twitter.com/CpLF4nPKEV
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 16, 2024
Former employee Ava Alabiso expressed her disappointment, noting, “Very, very disheartening. We didn’t even get to start the bargaining process. Didn’t even know what we were asking for before he decided to shut down all three stores, leaving us completely in the lurch through an email.”
Despite the closures, OCF Coffee House has committed to providing health, vision, and dental benefits to employees for the next three months. However, former employees are pushing for severance pay as well, highlighting their precarious financial situation following the sudden closures.
Observers have had mixed reactions. On social media platform X, many commenters have shown little sympathy for the former employees. One user remarked, “Instead of protesting the closure, they should be job searching,” while another added, “Unionizing a job you can train high school students to do in a week is always a bad idea.” Another commenter questioned the efficacy of the protests, asking, “I don’t understand … protesting a store closure? What are they expecting to accomplish with this? Hoping for the owners to change their minds and go broke paying your new wages?”
All OCF Coffee House locations close permanently, a week after workers moved to unionize. The employees are demanding they reopen. When you are raised by Democrats, you don’t know how business works. pic.twitter.com/5BmplX7iwa
— helen henning (@helenckh) June 17, 2024
The situation underscores the broader tensions between labor and management, particularly in small businesses facing economic pressures. The employees’ desire for better wages and benefits reflects a common struggle in the service industry, where part-time and low-wage positions often lack sufficient stability and health coverage. Feibush’s decision to close the shops rather than engage in union negotiations highlights the financial strain many small business owners face, particularly when confronted with rising costs and decreasing revenues.
The abrupt closure of the coffee shops has left employees scrambling to find new employment while grappling with the loss of their income and benefits. The next few months will be critical for these former employees as they navigate the challenges of unemployment and seek to secure their financial futures. Meanwhile, the broader debate about workers’ rights and the viability of small businesses in a challenging economic climate continues to unfold.
Employees at the OCF Coffee House in Philadelphia voted to unionize.
1 week later, all 3 stores closed down.
Now they’re protesting the closure! https://t.co/zoL1TbM5FJ
— 815wrldtrvlr (@815wrldtrvlr) June 17, 2024
Key Points:
i. Employee Demands: Former employees of OCF Coffee House protested for better pay, stability, and part-time health benefits after the sudden closure of three coffee shops.
ii. Closure Announcement: Owner Ori Feibush announced the immediate closure via email, citing increasing costs, declining sales, and administrative/legal costs related to the staff’s unionization efforts.
iii. Disappointment and Reaction: Employees expressed frustration over not having the chance to begin union negotiations before the closure, feeling abandoned by the abrupt decision.
iv. Temporary Benefits: Despite the closures, OCF Coffee House committed to providing health, vision, and dental benefits for the next three months, while employees also pushed for severance pay.
v. Public Response: Observers on social media had mixed reactions, with some criticizing the protests and suggesting employees should focus on finding new jobs, while others debated the viability of unionizing service industry positions.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
