Quills Coffee baristas in Indianapolis have unionized, and they’re hoping to carry the momentum to other coffee shops across the city.
Kristen Pankratius, a barista and one of the union organizers, said the vote to unionize was unanimous. Workers wanted to secure higher wages and paid leave.
“It was a very simple decision,” she said.
The baristas are joining the same bargaining unit as Quills workers in Louisville, Kentucky, which is where the coffee company is based. Louisville workers ratified their first contract in June 2025.
Baristas are unionized with Service Employees International Union branch 32BJ SEIU.
By joining the bargaining unit, Quills workers in Indianapolis immediately have a contract that includes wage increases, raises based on seniority, longer breaks and paid family leave. The Indianapolis shop at 941 N. Meridian St. is the only location outside of the Louisville area.
Fern Thompson, lead barista and union organizer at Quills Indianapolis, said the company’s leadership welcomed workers’ decision to unionize. And they said the community — along with Quills regulars — have been supportive.
Now, Thompson wants other baristas to see the benefits of an organized workplace.
“Unions aren’t a scary thing,” they said.
What Quills workers won
Thompson said the most important parts of the union’s first labor contract have to do with pay and paid leave.
- Lead baristas will start at $13.50 an hour, with increases to $16 an hour in the second year of employment.
- Baristas will start at $11.50 an hour, with increases to $14 an hour in the second year of employment.
Workers will also get:
- Four weeks of paid family leave.
- Up to three paid shifts of bereavement leave for full-time workers and one paid shift for part-time workers.
- Three paid holidays when the shop is closed and time-and-a-half pay for baristas who work during holidays.
- Time-and-a-half pay for daily overtime.
Thompson hopes organized labor can make it clear that baristas and other service workers deserve respect.
“Every cog in this machine is a necessary part,” they said.
Next up: Outreach to other Indy shops
Pankratius doesn’t want the union momentum to stop at Quills.
There are around 70 coffee shops in the Indianapolis area, according to the website Indianapolis Coffee Guide. But union representation isn’t the norm in a state where employees can work without joining a union or paying fees for representation. That’s despite unionized Mass Ave Starbucks workers joining a nationwide strike on Black Friday last year.
Pankratius wants to do outreach to other Indianapolis coffee shops, whether they’re locally owned or part of a chain.
“Try to get on the ground,” she said, “talk to as many baristas as possible.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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