Kaldi’s Coffee in St. Louis, Missouri is the latest specialty coffee company whose employees are seeking union representation. Comprised of eight cafes and a roasting facility, workers from all locations will vote to unionize, citing low pay and poor working conditions.
As reported by STLPR, the union push began back in August, when workers at the Skinker Boulevard location protested over unsuitable working conditions, including “a lack of air conditioning, drainage problems in the kitchen, and the reputed firing of an employee for raising issues with management.” One worker stated during the summer temperatures in the kitchen got to over 100 degrees. STLPR states that the Skinker Kaldi’s already has a super-majority of support from workers, which they are hoping will spread to include all locations.
On Wednesday of last week, pro-union workers held a rally at the Kaldi’s roasting facility, where more than 100 individuals came to show their support. Issues raised include higher pay, better health insurance, and “to be treated with dignity and respect like we all as humans deserve,” states Kaldi employee Iana McAllister. They also allege racially discriminatory hiring practices on the part of the company, citing on Black employee who applied for a Kitchen Lead position only to have it filled by a white employee they had trained.
In a statement given to Fox 2, a representative of Kaldi’s says they “respect our team members’ rights under federal law to discuss working conditions and make their own choices about union representation. Any decision about unionization belongs to them, and we’ll continue to follow the established legal process.” They continue, “All hourly team members will earn at least $17 per hour in Missouri, which is $2 above the state’s new minimum wage. As we do every year, we review pay and benefits to ensure they remain competitive and fair. We also provide comprehensive benefits: health insurance, 401(k) with employer match starting at just 20 hours per week, paid time off, access to emergency assistance through our Kaldi’s Cares Fund, and mental health resources through our Employee Assistance Program. We continue to offer paid sick time for all team members, a policy we maintained on our own initiative even after Missouri’s paid sick leave law (HB 567) was repealed.”
No official date has yet been announced for a vote. This story is developing.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
