Employees at four Starbucks locations in Portland voted to unionize Tuesday, according to the oregonian. The cafes at Southeast Powell Boulevard and 28th Avenue, West Burnside Street and 23rd Avenue, Northeast Grand Avenue and Lloyd Boulevard, and Southwest Fifth Avenue and Oak Street inside the US Bancorp Tower (also known as Big Pink) are the first Portland locations to vote to form unions, with the latter two locations getting a unanimous vote. The sites announced their intention to unionize in March.
Following the union vote, workers at Grand and Lloyd and Jantzen Beach Starbucks sites went on strike Wednesday morning in response to alleged company retaliation against organizing efforts, with the Eugene and Olympia sites having also called a sympathy strike. A company spokesperson denied the anti-union allegations and affirmed its commitment to following the National Labor Relations Board process. The local’s organizing efforts are part of a national wave of unionization, with workers at more than 230 Starbucks locations across the country demanding union elections over the past six months. Journalist Kristine de Leon notes that recent union gains now bring the number of organized company-owned stores to 75 nationwide. Read the initial story here and one follow-up story on the strike here.
Watch two Portland-based chefs on TV
Anthony Brown, co-owner of Southern Mexican Restaurant Nacheauxwill make its television debut on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games. Hosted by TV personality Guy Fieri, the game show’s upcoming 30th season airs Wednesday, May 25. On the day of the premiere, Brown will host a watch party at Ale & Cider House at 6 p.m. Nacheaux is currently closed until June, as the team is moving. in West Linn, and Brown recently opened a wing-focused sister restaurant called quick feathers at the Moxy Portland Hotel. Brown isn’t alone: More local representation will come to TV screens when Southwest Portland’s Christina McAlvey appears on the new PBS show the great American recipe. Portland Monthly food writer Katherine Chew Hamilton reports McAlvey will be one of 10 home cooks to compete, highlighting her vision for Filipino cuisine.
Pioneering brewery wins big at World Beer Awards
Widmer Brothers won a silver medal from the Beer World Cup 2022 this month, the brewery’s Hefeweizen was recognized in the American Wheat Beer category. Marking a comeback since being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, this year’s competition was the largest yet, receiving 10,542 entries from 2,493 breweries in 57 countries. Widmer’s Hefeweizen, or Hefe as it’s colloquially known, was written into Portland history in 2016, as the city declared May 15 “Hefe Day.” The brewery recently unveiled a new brand image and launched an updated brewery tours program, according to New school beer.
