JesseDec 28, 2022
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
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 threadJesse
@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
Jan 11, 2023 at 5:58pmMastonaut
Show threadJeff ByrnesJan 11, 2023
@misc sigh thanks for sharing. Fucking gross.