By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
A majority of workers at Sunergos Coffee in Louisville have voted to be represented by the Sunergos Workers' Union, an affiliate of the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers 32BJ/Service Employees International Union of Kentucky)
"WE WON OUR UNION ELECTION!! Now it’s time to bargaining for a fair contract that includes living wages, transparency from our employer, and the dignity and respect all workers deserve #solidarity#UnionsForAll," the Sunergos Workers Union tweeted Wednesday night after the vote was tallied.
"About 57 baristas, shift leads, delivery and bakery workers and others who were employed by Sunergos as of early December were eligible to vote in the election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board," wrote WDRB's Chris Otts.
The victory was announced just before 9 p.m., Otts added.
Tweeted Jacob Munoz of WFPL: "Employees voted 30-14 in favor of unionizing, according to union reps. They plan to negotiate for changes such as higher base pay, better benefits, and more flexible scheduling.
"Their organizing efforts began in the summer and officially received an election date last month."
The Sunergos vote was welcome news to Tim Morris, executive director of the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council. "We're proud to welcome these workers into our union family," he said. "We're proud to support the workers and we're proud of the community's support during the union drive. That support will continue through their negotiations for their first union contract."
Morris said the Sunergos victory is more proof that Louisville continues to mirror a national union resurgence.
Last year, workers at other Falls City coffee shops, a bookstore and a pizzeria unionized. So did truck drivers, public defenders and newsroom staffers at the Courier-Journal, Kentucky's largest newspaper. A union drive is underway at Trader Joe's grocery.