Ann Arbor Coffee Chain Prepares to Close Cafes, Lay Off Union Workers | Eater Detroit

"A four-cafe Ann Arbor coffee chain that says it will close all locations after its baristas organized a union; employees received notice on Monday, April 15 that the cafes would shutter on Friday, April 19 while they were in the midst of first contract negotiations. Baristas launched a union drive last August following a racial-discrimination complaint by a former worker, which the company acknowledged and later settled in December under a nondisclosure agreement. The union, the Washtenaw Area Coffee Workers’ Association, was officially recognized in October and has since inspired other barista organizing efforts nationally. Workers allege chronic understaffing and filed an NLRB charge shortly before the closure notice; they also say non-union staff will be kept on to continue the roasting business while union members are laid off. An attorney’s letter provided to employees cited the owner’s family and relationship stress as the reason for closing. Company social accounts have been silent or removed, the website remains active without comment, Yelp pages show recent one-star complaints about worker mistreatment, and employees staged protests while local outlets sought comment from the business." - Brenna Houck