Former employees of Adda Coffee & Tea House rallied early Wednesday in Sharpsburg with elected officials, local labor unions and community leaders in support of staffers who announced unionizing efforts last week, only to see all four coffeehouse locations shut down.
The employees gathered in front of Atithi Studios — run by the coffee chain’s owner, Sukanta Nag — with County Executive Sara Innamorato, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, State Senator Lindsey Williams and Lance Huber, director of the western division of UFCW local 1776.
“We’re here to send a message that Pittsburgh is a union town and that we’re always going to stand on the side of workers,” Mr. Davis said. “What the owners of Adda Coffee are doing is unconscionable and shameful. It’s not a coincidence that a day after the employees said they wanted to organize a union that they chose to close their doors.”
Adda announced last week that it would close all four of its locations — in Shadyside, Garfield, North Side and Downtown — a day after employees announced their intentions to unionize. Mr. Nag said the stores were operating a significant loss and that he had been considering closing since last year. The closures resulted in 33 jobs lost, according to employees.
Mr. Nag again reiterated Wednesday that the decision to close was purely financial.
“Our final determination was solely and entirely based on the financial viability of the business,” he said in an email to the Post-Gazette. “The timing has been unfortunate, but we could no longer continue losing money.
“Our priority from the beginning was focused on serving the community and less on revenue and profit, and we certainly had hoped and planned for it to grow into a healthy, sustainable business. Sadly, we discussed closing several times in the last few years, and we held out hope that we would find a way to make the business work. It was just not feasible.”
But rallygoers questioned the timing of the closures.
“I’m deeply saddened and confused about the abrupt closure and termination of my coworkers,” said Tammy Bevilacqua, a former Adda kitchen manager. “Coming together and forming a union is much more than fair wages. It’s about standing together to make everyone’s voice heard to improve working conditions and fair treatment.”
Former staff said they often had to work eight-hour shifts with no breaks, faced unsanitary conditions and recently had their hours cut with no explanation from management. Since the closures, they said, staff members have been unable to retrieve personal belongings or get their final paychecks.
“We unionized to foster the ability to support these communities to the best of our abilities and unfortunately Sukanta chose to destroy them completely,” said Ryan Rattley, a former barista. “I truly can’t express what it means to have our community support us as we continue to fight for what we deserve.”
County Executive Sara Innamorato said employers have a responsibility to their workers.
“As elected officials, as leaders in this community, we will not stand for it,” she said. “When we talk about building a county for all that means every single one of us, including our workers.”
Ms. Williams said she was once fired for attempting to organize in a workplace.
“I've been there,” she said. “I know what it feels like to have it taken away in an instant, being unable to pay your bills, pay your rent, your mortgage, your car payment — that's just a lot. There's a lot of anxiety. I hope that you recognize what your employer did was wrong.”
Former employees said their efforts are just beginning.
“Our union is still strong and more united than ever,” said Chris Gratsch, a former lead barista at Adda. “We will not stop until justice is served here. We are all one mind.”
Ciara McEneany: cmceneany@post-gazette.com
First Published: January 17, 2024, 5:36 p.m.
Updated: January 18, 2024, 8:24 p.m.
