Workers at West Philadelphia-based coffee shop, Green Line Cafe, have made a move toward unionizing, writes Jenn Ladd for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

A total of 22 Green Line Cafe workers across five shops and two kiosks have signed a letter informing the cafes’ owners, Daniel Thut and Douglas Whitmer, their intention to unionize and join Philadelphia’s growing barista union, Local 80.

“We seek respect for our needs, including safe working environments, competitive wages, and transparency,” the letter read, as posted on Instagram by the Philadelphia Joint Board Workers United (PJBWU), a Local 80 affiliate.

Green Line workers’ decision to unionize comes after various other local coffee shops have done the same.

Bluestone Lane employees unanimously voted to unionize, then three weeks later workers at OCF Coffee House announce their own unionization efforts. Two weeks after that, OFC Coffee owner Ori Feibush closed all three locations of the cafe chain.

Green Line Cafe opened its first location in 2003 across Clark Park. Since then, newer locations have opened in Powelton Village, Walnut Hill, Center City, and Queen Village, respectively. The two kiosks are located at University of Pennsylvania’s dental and vet schools. A roastery was added in late 2020.

Read more about Green Line Cafe and the growing number of coffee shops represented by Local 80 at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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