Kaldi’s Coffee workers and their supporters rally in support of unionization efforts with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s offices and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Workers from eight St. Louis-area Kaldi’s Coffee locations publicly announced their campaign to form a union on Wednesday, citing poor work conditions and low pay.
More than 100 people gathered for a rally Wednesday in front of the coffee company’s roastery and headquarters on Gratiot Street in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. The group included Kaldi’s workers, community members and people from several local unions including Starbucks Workers United and the American Postal Workers Union.
The labor dispute at the company started in August when workers at the Skinker Boulevard location protested over a lack of air conditioning, drainage problems in the kitchen and the reputed firing of an employee for raising issues with management.
Company officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kaldi’s worker Iana McAllister said that sewage backed up into the kitchen four times and that the air conditioning broke during the summer, driving kitchen temperatures to 100 degrees or higher.
“We just want better working conditions,” McAllister said. “We also want higher pay, we want better health insurance, and we also just want to be treated with dignity and respect like we all as humans deserve.”
McAllister, who is Black, also said when she was applying for a kitchen lead position, management instead hired a white coworker whom she had trained.
The Skinker location already has a supermajority of workers willing to unionize, and the other seven stores are working toward that same goal.
Kaldi’s employee Harry Campbell, who also works at the Skinker location, said organizing has already helped improve conditions.
“When the A/C broke down for the third time this summer, and management still wasn't fixing it, we didn't just complain to each other anymore and hope things got better, we delivered a petition and went on strike,” Campbell said. “Guess what? Fixed immediately.”
Campbell and McAllister are both leaders of the Missouri Workers Center, which is the organization helping the Kaldi’s workers unionize. Unite Here Local 74, which helps hospitality workers unionize, is also involved.
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, of the 7th Ward, said she plans to introduce a resolution on Friday that affirms the Board of Aldermen’s support for the right of Kaldi’s employees to organize.
“I think that organizing is a right that every worker should have unquestionably,” Sonnier said.
See photos of Wednesday's rally by St. Louis Public Radio's visuals editor Brian Munoz.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
John Bowman, a candidate for Missouri’s 14th Senate District, rallies with Kaldi’s Coffee workers as they announce their intent to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside Kaldi’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee worker Salem Griffin, 21, right, rallies alongside coworkers and supporters as they announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 on Wednesday.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee worker Iana McAllister speaks about working conditions as employees announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 members Nikki Rich, of House Springs, left, and Amy Meyr, of Cedar Hill, rally alongside Kaldi’s Coffee workers during an announcement of the workers’ effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roastery on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, of the 7th Ward, speaks in support of unionizing Kaldi’s Coffee workers outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee worker Harry Campbell speaks about a lack of medical insurance from the local coffee company during a union rally on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday.
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Kaldi’s Coffee workers and supporters rally to announce their effort to unionize with Unite Here Local 74 outside the company’s headquarters and roasters on Wednesday in St. Louis’ Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
