TO: Mike Mays, President, Heine Brothers’ Coffee
1301 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40203

Heine Brothers Organizing Committee
National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU 32BJ
Union Staff Contact: Alexis Hardesty
4100 Churchman Ave, Louisville, KY 40215
hardestya@ncfo.org | C: (803) 422-1790

Dear Mike,
We’re writing to give you an update about some exciting news!  We have decided to come together to demand respect, fair wages, and a voice on the job. We are done with empty promises and unilateral changes. Let’s get one thing clear though; we love our jobs; we love the people we work with! Our love and respect for one another makes us ready to fight for the changes we need and deserve and we’re committed to winning a fair contract.  After all, we are the people who make our stores great.  Below, please find our list of demands including our formal demand for recognition and we hope to hear from you soon. 

1. Protect us in our stores: Covid Precaution & Protections! NO TOLERANCE policy for customers or general maintenance employees who harass employees or engage in inappropriate or predatory conduct in stores.  No more “solo” opens/closes. All stores must be appropriately staffed with two or more employees AT ALL TIMES to prevent possible safety concerns. 
2.  Voluntarily Recognize our Union.
3. $15 starting wage; NO PAY CAPS.
4. NO UNPAID LABOR - COMPANYWIDE.
5. All employees must be healthcare eligible on day 1 of employment.
6. Negotiate minimum staffing requirements & maximum work per hour expectations; follow these terms by committing to closing stores and sending baristas home with pay if the company is unable to staff appropriately. This includes extra staff support for training new baristas and the hiring of more Managers/ Assistant Managers to share workload with current Store Managers to ensure all tasks can be completed accurately and efficiently. 
7. Baristas must be compensated in the event of emergency store closures.  Docking staffing for tornado warnings, flooding, storms, or other dangerous weather conditions which mandate store closure is creates a significant financial burden.  
8. Respect Seniority. Allow for Store Managers to make the decisions necessary to run their store. This includes, but is not limited to, hiring power, making necessary physical changes to the store to accommodate staff, and decisions regarding daily/weekly Barista responsibilities.
9. Commit to schedule (companywide) PAID meal breaks for staff.
10. Maintain Equipment. Be transparent and maintain open communication with staff when equipment becomes non-functional and has not been fixed. If essential equipment is in disrepair, and we cannot run our stores smoothly and safely, we want store leadership to have the power to shut down the store until the equipment has been fixed, fully replaced, or other arrangements are made so that staff can safely operate the store.  
11. PTO accrual Day 1 
12. Ensure reasonable accommodation to present and future employees with disabilities, health requirements, and body sizes. Incorporate diversity and equity training to protect employees from discrimination. 

Please accept this letter and the enclosed signatures as notice that we wish to be represented by National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU 32BJ.  

I AM READY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH MY CO-WORKERS TO IMPROVE WAGES, HOURS, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. I THEREFORE STAND WITH MY CO-WORKERS AND DESIGNATE AND AUTHORIZE NCFO DISTRICT OF LOCAL 32 BJ SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CHAPTER 320 TO BE MY EXCLUSIVE BARGINING REPRESENTATIVE AND TO REPRESENT ME IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH MY EMPLOYER HEINE BROTHERS COFFEE.