By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, December 9, a resolution was written and introduced by Councilor At-Large Kristen Strezo and unanimously approved by the Council in support of workers of Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company (as DBF United) and their goal to unionize.

The official Text of the resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS: Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company companies and their workers – heretofore known as DBF UNITED – are cherished members of both the residential community and the business community, and are respected for their service and care given to the community; and

WHEREAS: Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company companies and their continued successes align with Somerville’s vision of community, inclusivity, and diversity and for being a reflection of who we are as Bloc and Diesel are LGBTQIA and women-owned businesses and Forge is a LGBTQIA, minority-owned and women-owned business; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED of Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company have stated that the aforementioned ownership status creates a space for LGBTQIA inclusion and assurance that employees feel included and thrive, to feel a sense of pride and feel assured that they are welcomed in our community; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED have served the residents and employees of Somerville before, during and with the intention to serve after the COVID pandemic – which brought instability and uncertainty to our community; and

WHEREAS: Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company have been recognized for their service to the community with compassionate efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic such as raising over $50,000 in order to help food insecure and vulnerable residents–and with a goal to provide over 10k meals to the community; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED wish to unionize with a goal to preserve their workplace and reaffirm the value of building worker power, dignity, and justice throughout our city and across the coffee industry; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED, represented by the New England Joint Board UNITE HERE, hope to formally unionize the Somerville-based workers as DBF UNITED as soon as possible; and

WHEREAS: A letter to Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company management has been delivered on Monday Dec 6th, 2021, stating an intent to unionize, and an overwhelming majority of over 50 workers have signed union authorization cards indicating deep support for the effort; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED rise in solidarity with the unionized cafe workers of Darwin’s, Ltd., and Pavement Coffeehouse – whose owners voluntarily recognized their unionization efforts; and

WHEREAS: Members of DBF UNITED feel that, through collaboration and solidarity, they will raise the standards of service industry workers across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS: Research by the Economic Policy Institute shows how unionized workplaces fared better through the pandemic due to workers having “a voice in how their employers navigated the pandemic;” and

WHEREAS: Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows a positive correlation between union membership, job satisfaction, and general happiness and well-being; and

WHEREAS: It is recognized that employee stability and overall employee happiness helps organizations thrive and can assist in the longevity of the business; and

WHEREAS: Unionizing strengthens the businesses’ positions within the community as evidenced by the outpouring of community support since union notification; and

WHEREAS: By supporting the voluntary recognition of employees’ effort to unionize, Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company would be home to the third independent coffee shop union in the Commonwealth; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council supports the significance of Diesel Cafe, Bloc Cafe, and Forge Baking Company in the community and the efforts of DBF United along with the right to unionize and pursue stability through collaboration and solidarity alongside their fellow Massachusetts Coffee Union workers.