ATHENS, Ohio — Athens’ local printing shop employees are once again union members: Minuteman Press announced May 22 that its workers have joined the Communication Workers of America Union.
Minuteman Press owner Eva Bloom told the Independent the two-decades-old business had previous union representation under its first owner, too. Minuteman is a franchise with just over 1,000 locations worldwide.
“It was previously owned by William Bowers, and then I purchased the business in October [2025],” Bloom said. Previously, the shop’s workers were members of the Graphic Communications Conference.
“When Bill sold the business, we were then not unionized, and then we kind of looked at our options to rejoin a union, and settled with Communication Workers of America,” Bloom said. “The reason we ended up with Communication Workers of America specifically is because they had some really great additional benefits for the team.”
As the owner, Bloom is not a member of the union, she said, although she is affiliated with it. The shop has a team of five including herself, she said. All four workers are union members.
“The contract is between me and the union, and it covers the shop,” Bloom said.
Sierra Yannitell is Minuteman’s lead print operator and union steward. Yannitell has worked at the shop for about two years now, under both Bloom and Bowers’ ownerships. Yannitell had not been a union member prior to joining the CWA, as there was a gap between the shop’s union membership amid changes of ownership.
“I would have loved to have been able to be a part of a union beforehand,” Yannitell said. “So I’m very happy that the opportunity has arisen that we all can join.”
Yannitell said the union offers a variety of benefits, including educational and networking opportunities.
“I believe that the union is going to give us a lot more opportunities to be more active in our community,” Yannitell said. “Many of the places around here can’t print with people who are not unionized. It gives us the opportunity to print with those who need to print with the union, which is really beneficial for the community.”
As the union steward, Yannitell serves on the four-person crew as a bridge “between the ownership and the team,” in case of conflict.
“I’ve never been in a union before, so I’m really excited to be here,” Yannitell said.
Minuteman Press is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 17 W. Washington St., Athens.
