Third Street Stuff Closure, Strike & Boycott
Hey folks! I'm an employee at Third Street Stuff & Coffee and one of the people involved in the Third Street Staff Union (TSSU). Over the last two days, the staff was informed that Third Street Stuff will be transitioning ownership from Pat Gerhard to her son and daughter-in-law (who is currently a manager at Third Street), Dave and Lindsey Gerhard. They told us Third Street is closing June 1st for an unspecified amount of time, leaving the entire staff 10 days' notice of being laid off and countless community members no way of visiting their favorite unionized coffee shop. Why would this change in ownership warrant a closure and laying off their entire staff, who knows? We suspect it's to force the people who make up our union out under the guise of renovations and new ownership. We, the Third Street Staff Union, are going on strike starting this Saturday the 23rd until the prospective owners agree to keep Third Street open and bargain with us in good faith. We are asking community members to join us in a boycott of the business and picketing outside Third Street Stuff the next two Saturdays, the 23rd and 30th, from 11-1pm. Join us in demanding the new owners maintain the status quo by keeping the shop open and bargain in good faith by providing us the long overdue counterproposals we need to reach agreements about our working conditions. For more information or to donate to our emergency fund, visit us on instagram @thirdstreetstaff.