Workers at Philz Coffee locations in Glendale and Torrance were among employees at four California stores who voted to unionize, the United Food and Commercial Workers union announced Wednesday.
Workers at the Glendale and Torrance stores will join UFCW Local 770, while employees at Philz locations in San Francisco and Cupertino will join UFCW Local 5, according to the union.
The workers voted to join Philz Coffee United, which began with workers at a Berkeley location who formed the organization with UFCW Local 5 and are negotiating their first contract.
Workers at the four locations announced their organizing efforts Sept. 8.
“We joined Philz because we believed in its values of being kind, keeping it real, and always pursuing better,” Torrance Philz Coffee worker Irene Leavitt said. “But when it came to issues like safety, scheduling, wages, and transparency, too many of us felt like our voices weren’t being heard. This overwhelming vote shows that we are united and ready to have a real say in our workplace.”
Philz Coffee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Employees at the stores will have the opportunity to negotiate over wages, benefits, scheduling, workplace protections and other working conditions, according to UFCW.
The union said Philz Coffee operates more than 80 locations in California.
UFCW said workers had raised concerns after Philz Coffee was sold to a private equity firm in 2025 and after the company’s CEO directed stores earlier this year to remove Pride flags. The company later reversed that decision, according to the union.
“This whole process has made me appreciate my coworkers more and it helped me understand my rights and responsibilities as an employee,” Makella Campbell, a barista at Philz Coffee’s Cupertino Main location, said. “It seems like we all have a common goal: a safe and secure workplace.”
Was great a few years ago but stopped because of the idiotic pride flag and the long lines when the cashier was too busy with food orders to take your coffee order. Just make coffee. So 4 employees unionized? Stupid.
Dear Mark,
Really sad to see the effects of literacy decline in real time. Four Philz locations, including over 50 workers decided to unionize. It WAS great a few years ago, before being sold to a private equity. Normally when people see a long line they have two brain cells to rub together to conclude they might have to wait. Please educate yourself before calling others stupid.
Philz workers are more than likely spread thin because of all the challenges they have to face with low staffing, constant changes in work policy, and having to defend their values in a place that has shown dubious standards. I’m glad some stores are finally uniting to have their voices heard and make their coffee shops a safe place for employees alongside their customers
Finally some good news,
So happy to hear the stores successfully unionized! I was so disappointed with the removal of the pride flags. Glad that they got them back when the power of the people! PHILZ UNITED!!