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Zoe Muellner had been a barista trainer for Colectivo in Chicago for about two years when she decided to join the unionizing effort. They don’t require employees exposed to Covid-19 to quarantine, and union organizers had to fight to implement temperature checks and paid time off if an employee contracted Covid. Pay differs widely between different Colectivo locations, with employees in Madison and Milwaukee making around $3 less per hour than employees in Chicago.Īnd as the pandemic rolls on, Colectivo seems desperate to cut corners when it comes to public health precautions. However, those public facing sentiments don’t seem to apply to Colectivo’s employees. Their marketing and branding emphasizes a “neighborhood” approach, where Colectivo claims to value fair trade, community bonds, and investing in their neighbors.
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From locally sourced produce, to artisan roasted coffee, to fresh-baked pastries, Colectivo walks the walk of an ethical and sustainable business. Whatever the final decision, organizers at Colectivo hope that their efforts will inspire others to organize, and to stand strong in the face of divisive anti-union tactics.Ĭolectivo Coffee is a midwestern luxury coffee chain, operating over a dozen locations throughout Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago. The final votes will be cast on March 30th, with the outcome known in early April. The year long process comes to a head this month as employees vote by mail: union yes or union no. Organizers have persevered, even continuing to volunteer their time and energy after being permanently laid-off or fired. Management at Colectivo has been militant about their union-busting efforts, hiring outside consultants and using dirty tactics to turn employees against each other. However, the process hasn’t been without conflict. It’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the Midwestern labor struggle, and the story itself is a practical guide to how a group of dedicated organizers can launch a broad unionizing effort. If successful, they’ll be the largest unionized coffee house in the country, paving the way for other regional and national chains to organize. All across the Midwest, employees at Colectivo Coffee are in the middle of a historic union vote.