Catherwood LibraryILR School

After seven months of bargaining and with the support of the Tompkins County Workers' Center and Workers United, the newly-unionized baristas of Gimme! Coffee, an Ithaca-based chain of coffee shops, have successfully ratified their first contract with their employer. In light of an overwhelmingly pro-union response to union organization within the workplace, baristas and local workers’ rights advocates have worked tirelessly to spearhead not only the formation of a union but also the creation of a contract within one year. Gimme! Coffee owner Kevin Cuddeback has expressed a total willingness to work towards making sure employees’ voices and concerns are heard, describing the formation of the union as “people coming together to build a better world”, a message which he and his company fully endorse. Union members believe that the contract is a critical milestone in their journey to represent their interests and forge an improved relationship with management.