Workers at Minneapolis-based Peace Coffee vote ‘overwhelmingly’ to unionize

Employees at Minneapolis-based Peace Espresso have voted to unionize.

In a Thursday announcement, United Meals and Industrial Employees Native 663 mentioned that 17 Peace Espresso employees had voted “overwhelmingly” to unionize.

Peace Espresso employees introduced their intent to affix the union in April. The election was licensed Thursday after ballots have been despatched out by mail.

UFCW Native 663 represents round 17,000 employees in retail, meals manufacturing, manufacturing and healthcare in Iowa and Minnesota. Employees concerned with roasting, manufacturing, transport and supply at Peace Espresso can be represented by the union, based on the announcement.

“Our union welcomes employees at Peace Espresso. UFCW Native 663 is devoted to enhancing employees’ lives, office by office,” mentioned Matthew Utecht, president of UFCW Native 663, in an announcement.

“We’re the union of important employees who’ve one another’s backs. Our union has a spot for anybody that desires to construct a greater life by reaching collectively for larger wages, advantages and extra office protections.” 

Peace Espresso launched in Minneapolis in 1996. It later opened 4 espresso retailers within the Twin Cities, although the corporate determined to shut all 4 completely in November 2020 attributable to hardships introduced on through the pandemic. 

In an announcement, Peace Espresso proprietor and CEO Lee Wallace mentioned he is “wanting ahead” to starting negotiations with the union. 

“That is new floor so we’ll be taught as we go and we’ll do our absolute best to be sure that we proceed to behave in methods in step with and supportive of our tradition, our shared values, and our shared future,” Wallace mentioned.