DETROIT (WWJ) - Employees of the Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company went on strike Wednesday morning, in hopes of winning a union contract that would improve wages, confront unsafe working conditions and more.
Coffee industry workers met at 12 p.m. at the flagship GLCRC shop at 3965 Woodward Ave. in Detroit in an attempt to make working conditions better.
The movement started at the beginning of the year when nine employees all tested positive for COVID-19 at the coffee company's Midtown location. Workers attempted to confront management about health and safety concerns and eventually moved to unionize when they felt safer protocols were not made.
Calling themselves "Comrades in Coffee," the movement hopes to inspire other baristas and coffee shop employees across Michigan to stand up against unsafe working conditions and better pay — at least $15 an hour.
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GLCRC workers were joined by UNITE HERE Local 24 in Detroit, a labor union organization who said the strike was currently the only move by coffee employees to become unionized in the entire nation and the first recognition strike in the city in over 10 years.
UNITE HERE Local 24 represents over 7,000 members across Metro Detroit in various industries, such as hotel, airport and food service.
Strikers also organized to meet with State Representative Abraham Aiyash, Detroit City Councilwoman District 6 Gabriela Santiago-Romero, AFT-MI President David Hecker and UAW VP Cindy Estrada.
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