Ep. 6: Spyhouse Coffee Workers Unionizing in Minneapolis.

Grab a cuppa joe and listen up! It's a good one today folks :)

Three workers from Spyhouse Coffee in Minneapolis - Elise, Maeve and Matt - chatted about the Whys and Hows of their choice to start unionizing their coworkers and stage the first successful food service industry strike in 20 years in the state of Minnesota.  Against the background of the George Floyd protests, they also feel the problematic history of their workplace with their community is also an important part of their fight. (There have been some *ahem* problematic interactions/attitudes). Spyhouse workers have encountered pushback - and downright strange reactions - from management, but are set to hopefully have their vote mid-November.  Minneapolis has been undergoing a bit of an organizing wave in our industry, with several distilleries and breweries also undertaking unionizing efforts since the start of the pandemic.

You can follow Spyhouse on Instagram and Twitter. Other local unionizing efforts include Tattersall, Stilheart and Lawless distilleries and Fair State (a co-op!) and Surly Breweries.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning about how to organize in this industry, Ilhan Omar (yes!!!) is joining food and beverage workers in a webinar on Oct. 26 to talk with folks who have organized and train those who want to. It's being cosponsored by Restaurant Workers United, the Restaurant Organizing Project, UniteHERE local 23 and 17 and the Denver DSA as well as the Bay's own Anchor Union (see Blake in Ep.1!!).

There are finally socials for this podcast, lol, though I have yet to post everything. Someday I'll catch up. Find this pod on Instagram or Twitter and if you follow, you may soon even see a post! :p And of course we're up on Spotify and Stitcher (more soon!).