Colectivo Coffee: The Time to Bargain is Now

Members of Colectivo Collective and IBEW Staff

Over the past year, local unions, union members, elected officials, and members of the community have stood in solidarity with workers at Colectivo Coffee (the Colectivo Colective) through various actions and reverse boycotts over the past year. The main goals being to show workers the strength in standing together, support in the community, and the positive impact a union can have on a business' bottom line.

Last summer, workers at Colectivo Coffee voted to form a union. Management dragged out the process and dumped tons of money into union busting attorneys so it's no surprise that now Colectivo Coffee has refused to negotiate. This is unacceptable.

Rally attendees and members of the press observe as the organizing committee deliver the petition to Colectivo management and ask for a meeting.

This morning the unionized workers of Colectivo, local unions, union leaders, union members, elected officials, and the community delivered petition signatures to the owners and management of Colectivo Coffee.

IBEW Local 494 Business Manager Dean Warsh and other staff from Local 494 stood shoulder to shoulder with their new members from Colectivo Collective to deliver petition signatures and requested a meeting. Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale, Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee County Supervisors Ryan Clancy and Steve Shea, State Senator Chris Larson, State Rep Chris Sinicki, MPS School Board President Bob Peterson, and members from a wide variety of Labor Council affiliate unions attended today's event.

MALC President Pam Fendt addresses the crowd. Photo Credit: Joe Brusky

MALC President Pam Fendt addressed the crowd saying, "The Colectivo Collective won their election in August of last year. It is a very bad response from management that they still have not started the bargaining process. Colectivo management has been filing appeals to the NLRB that have no merit. It is clear they are only seeking to stall the certification process. Their employees have spoken; they want to continue to formally work together and COLLECTIVELY address conditions at work. It's past time for management to come to the table."

Negotiations are never easy, but that's where the power of a union enters. When you have solidarity, you're never truly alone. The local unions, members, and staff of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council look forward to standing strong in solidarity with some of the newest members of our labor family during their historic journey towards a successful first contract.