Stone Creek Coffee workers start voting on union representation

Employees of Stone Creek Coffee will start voting this week on whether to form a labor union. 

Ballots are being mailed to eligible workers by the National Labor Relations Board Monday, and must be returned by April 1, said Maria Brondino, a Stone Creek barista who is recording secretary for the organizing committee. Ballots will be counted April 2.

If approved by workers, the Stone Creek union — part of Teamsters Local 344 — would represent up to 140 baristas, roasters, production workers, delivery drivers, bakers and others who work for the Milwaukee-based coffee company, Bill Carroll, secretary-treasurer of the local, said Monday.

Stone Creek has about 200 employees in all.

The ballots will be counted at the National Labor Relations Board office at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 450W, in Milwaukee.

Some employees of Stone Creek have been unhappy with wages, which start at $8 an hour for baristas, along with shift scheduling and other issues.

"We've been building support since last September when we were first contacted by these workers," Carroll said.

RELATED:Upset with wages and other issues, some Stone Creek Coffee employees want to form a union

Management has said baristas make between $4 and $5 an hour in tips as well as the $8-per-hour starting pay, putting total compensation for starting baristas at $12 to $13 per hour.

Stone Creek Coffee has 12 Wisconsin locations.

Paul Gores can be reached at (414) 224-2392. Follow him on Twitter @pgores