Lakefront Brewery Workers Form Union, Demand Recognition
MILWAUKEE – Hospitality workers at Lakefront Brewery announced Monday they had formed a union. The union demanded recognition by their employer backed by a super-majority of front-of-house and back-of-house employees who have signed union authorization and membership cards (more than 70% as of this release).
“My co-workers and I formed a union to create a level playing field with management so we can address workplace issues with confidence the company will actually hear the voices of the workers on the floor every day. Our union is the way for Lakefront Brewery workers to make sure we are valued to the same degree we bring value to the company.” – Justis Mulqueen, Server
“We have formed a union to foster more open, honest, and clear communication amongst everyone who works at Lakefront Brewery. Workers have valuable insight into the operations of the business and should have more input into how it is run. We should have a meaningful say on the conditions of our employment. Because of this, I hope management commits to opening this line of communication and meeting us at the bargaining table as soon as possible.” – Kimberly Dinan, Lead Line Cook
“As the son of a union plumber and a current union teacher, I know what worker empowerment through unions means. With a union at Lakefront Brewery, we would have a voice equal to management and be able to advocate for what is best for us – and what we know is good for the brewery we know and love.” – Matt Littlejohn, Front Of House
On October 30, 2024 the Lakefront Brewery workers informed the company that they had formed a union with MASH (Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers Union), demanded recognition by the employer, and requested dates and times to begin collective bargaining. The union offered to submit proof of majority support to review of union authorization-membership cards by a neutral third party. The company sought to review the cards on their own, a breach of the confidentiality of the unionization process that would have opened up employees to retaliation. The union presented the company’s lawyer with a card check agreement to ensure against retaliation and to provide for a neutral third party to review. Despite promising a response, the employer then stopped communicating with the union.
Employers often use the NLRB election process as a means to prevent unionization of employees instead of recognizing the majority choice made by workers already. First, employers use bureaucratic maneuvers and litigation tactics to delay and prevent employees from voting, undermining support and wearing down workplace union leaders. For example, employers can force delays through spurious claims to NLRB officials and administrative law judges about allowing managers and supervisors to participate in the election or the particular dates and times of an election. Second, NLRB processes are not free and fair elections (which do not take place at neutral sites): eligible voters only hear from the anti-union side at the workplace, with employers legally allowed to lie to employees, misrepresent facts, and browbeat supporters. Third, even while federal labor law prohibits some conduct, employers routinely violate these proscriptions because employees can fear retaliation for participation in NLRB investigations that take months to resolve.
The Lakefront Brewery workers union would be comprised of servers, tour guides and other front of house workers as well as a cooks, dishwashers and other back of house workers. The union requested recognition of this bargaining unit of full- and part-time employees, numbering roughly 80 workers. Through their filing with the NLRB, the company identified a bargaining unit of roughly 70 workers, excluding some and otherwise seeking to include managers that federal labor law does not include in union-representation eligibility. Regardless of the bargaining unit size, union supermajority support reaches over 70% of employees.
The first hearing in front of the National Labor Relations is scheduled for November 22nd.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
