Samuel Adams Brewery Workers Voted to Unionize

Staff at the Jamaica Plain facility approved the move in an 18-3 vote to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Unions

Isometric editorial illustration of a stainless steel brewing vat set against a brick industrial wall, symbolizing workplace organizing. — Employees at the Samuel Adams brewery facility in Jamaica Plain voted 18-3 to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support the right of private sector employees to unionize to negotiate their wages?

Approximately 30 employees at the Samuel Adams brewery in Jamaica Plain have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 328. The group cast 18 votes in favor and three against, marking a successful organizing effort after filing their intent in August 2026.

Why it matters

The staff members sought to organize due to ongoing frustrations regarding workplace safety, limited training opportunities, and stagnant wage growth. By joining the union, these workers aim to secure formal representation to address these specific concerns.

The vote count was 18 in favor of unionization and three against, involving roughly 30 staff members. Brewery ambassadors currently earn an hourly wage of $20, while bartenders earn a base hourly wage of $10.

The players

Boston Beer Company

This is the corporate owner of the Samuel Adams brewery brand and the operator of the Jamaica Plain site.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328

This is a regional labor union branch representing roughly 11,000 members across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

National Labor Relations Board

This independent federal agency is responsible for enforcing labor laws and overseeing union election processes.

The details

Workers at the historic Haffenreffer Brewery building location held community events and planning sessions to build support for the move. They officially submitted their petition to the National Labor Relations Board to formalize the process in August 2026.

The brewery opened in Jamaica Plain in 1989.
Workers submitted their intent to unionize in August 2026.
The unionization vote took place on September 22, 2026.
Union members will meet in the next several weeks to discuss contract demands.

Political Context

This move follows a broader trend of craft brewery staff organizing in the Boston region, signaling a shift in labor relations within the local hospitality industry. Opponents of such efforts often cite concerns about increased operational costs and the potential for a more rigid management structure.

For brewery staff, the successful vote initiates a formal process to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that could impact future wages and benefits. The public visiting the Jamaica Plain taproom should not expect immediate changes to service or accessibility as the contract process begins.

The takeaway

This successful vote marks the beginning of formal collective bargaining for the Jamaica Plain brewery staff. Local workers in similar positions may look to this process as a reference point if they choose to pursue their own unionization efforts.

What happens next

Union members are scheduled to fill out surveys and host internal meetings in the coming weeks to finalize their specific contract demands for upcoming negotiations.