IBEW Local 494 Statement on Colectivo’s Union-Busting Meetings

MILWAUKEE – The following statement was released by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 494 Business Manager Dean A. Warsh on Colectivo’s employee meetings:

Today, February 17th, Colectivo owners are hosting a presentation for their employees with union avoidance consultants from LRI Consulting Services. The presentation is designed to convince workers to vote no in their upcoming union election.

Colectivo has told their workers since the beginning of the pandemic they could not give them a raise. Many of these workers have been waiting on their review and raise since 2019. The IBEW has recognized the impact that COVID19 has had on businesses and has encouraged customers to continue to patronize Colectivo and to order their coffee IBEW STRONG!

Colectivo has said they have been forced to eliminate positions, lay workers off, cut working hours, and demanded full availability from their workers prohibiting them from taking a second job to survive. They have repeatedly told their work force there is no money. Colectivo continues to presents itself as a champion of free speech yet in contrast to what they say, Colectivo has hired union busters from LRI to hold these captive audience meetings with their workers.

Colectivo advised in an email sent to the IBEW, they want their employees to have the opportunity to “VOTE WITHOUT COERCION”. But today in Milwaukee they are spending thousands of dollars to hold one-sided captive audience meetings in the hopes of preventing these workers from building collective power and voting to form their union with the IBEW.

Using union-busting tactics to intimidate workers is one more tool in the toolbox that the global elite uses to keep workers from exercising their rights to improve their working conditions by joining a union.

Employees and community members will be handing out fliers to other employees of Colectivo before the meetings with union busters at these Colectivo locations and times:

Prospect
The Back Room
2211 N. Prospect Avenue
Milwaukee

10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.

Bayview
2301 S. Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee

10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.