Jesse
This is awesome - after Darwin's (coffee shop in Cambridge, MA) shut down all 4 of its locations to crush a union, the workers are now organizing to form a cooperatively owned coffee shop. Raising money now on Gofundme https://www.gofundme.com/f/start-a-worker-cooperative
Dec 28, 2022 at 3:13pmIvory for iOS
Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 28, 2022

@misc the timing is definitely crap, but I haven’t clearly seen that “crushing the union” was their motivation. From what I’ve heard, it seems more like it was just one thing too many, and after ~30 years they decided it was time to be done.

It sucks that playing ball w/ the union was the straw that broke the camel’s back, but unless you know otherwise, it seems to be lacking any anti-union animus.

Show threadJesseDec 28, 2022
@jeffbyrnes I don’t think proof of animus or monocausality is needed to call something union busting. “Crushing” is a strong word, but I think it’s fair to use that terminology to describe a dramatic action with a dramatic effect.
Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 28, 2022

@misc I hear that, though I read your post as meaning “they decided to close b/c a union was forming” not “they decided to retire b/c of many things, including a union starting up”.

Different vibe, y’know? I just don’t want folks getting super angry at the Darwins when maybe this wasn’t really about the union even if it’s in the mix.

Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 28, 2022
@misc I do think it sucks, and maybe is telling, that they didn’t offer to sell the biz to the union, or anyone in fact. But I’ve yet to hear anything that isn’t fuzzy on what really went down.
Show threadserious businessDec 30, 2022

@jeffbyrnes

lol, bro

Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 30, 2022

@ceresbzns they ran their cafes for 30 years, and spent the last 3 years dealing with Covid. They’re hardly the only restauranteurs to throw in the towel recently.

But yeah, the union forming & so on makes it iffy.

I tend to look for the best in folks, so my jury’s still out here 🤷

I’ve been a customer for almost decade, myself, so I’d much rather have seen them figure it out or sell to the union. Hearing about some of them trying to take over 1 location is heartening!

Show threadserious businessDec 30, 2022

@jeffbyrnes

It's insulting to the ongoing struggle these workers are going through that you would be so credulous in favor of the cafe owners. I'm never going to believe the word of a biz owner over that of the workers struggling to secure a dignified livelihood for themselves.

Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 31, 2022
@ceresbzns the workers haven’t said anything though? At least I haven’t seen anything, so I’ve got nothing from them to go on.
Show threadserious businessDec 31, 2022

@jeffbyrnes

The workers have said plenty. It's out there. Just because you haven't seen it without looking for it doesn't mean much.

Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 31, 2022

@ceresbzns dude I just did a fresh search & almost everything except an MSN article is pretty light on details.

But MSN one does a better job of making it clear that this is about the union. So thanks, I guess, for insulting me into finding that?

But seriously, was there some reason you led with being condescending, instead of pointing me in the right direction?

Show threadserious businessDec 31, 2022

@jeffbyrnes

You're right, I was rude - I apologize

Show threadserious businessDec 31, 2022

@jeffbyrnes

Sometimes I have a hard time taking people at face value

Show threadJeff ByrnesDec 31, 2022
@ceresbzns you’re forgiven, thanks for the apology. There’s lots of trolls out there, so I get it.
Show threadJesseJan 11, 2023
@jeffbyrnes Welp. https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/01/11/roust-coffee-prepares-to-open-in-darwins-space-with-a-business-model-familiar-from-darwins
Roust Coffee prepares to open in Darwin’s space with a business model familiar … from Darwin’s - Cambridge Day

Roust Coffee, which plans to open in the Harvard Square location of the closed Darwin’s Ltd. coffee shop, will seem familiar – right down its manager.

Cambridge Day
Show threadJeff ByrnesJan 11, 2023
@misc sigh thanks for sharing. Fucking gross.
Show threadcden4Dec 28, 2022
@misc Do you know if the workers approached the Darwins at all about taking over the business and purchasing it from the family?
Show threadJesseDec 28, 2022
@cden4 I don't know, sorry!