Surly Brewing management and workers attempting to organize a union at the Minneapolis-based craft brewery have reached an agreement on a union election after several weeks of negotiations, Unite Here Local 17 announced Thursday.
“We appreciate Surly’s efforts in reaching this agreement on a fair process,” Unite Here Local 17 tweeted. “In the interest of moving forward and working together the worker committee has agreed to withdraw their unfair labor practice charge.”
Both the union and Surly agreed the COVID-19 pandemic has been financially catastrophic for the hospitality industry.
“After weeks of productive conversations with Unite Here’s representatives, we’re happy to say we’ve reached an agreement on election terms,” Surly founder and owner Omar Ansari said in a statement to Brewbound. “The union recognizes the financial and operational challenges Surly has faced since the start of the pandemic.”
This compromise is several weeks in the making. On August 31, a majority of Surly’s hospitality staff informed management that they intended to unionize and join Unite Here Local 17, a union representing hospitality workers in the Twin Cities.
Two days later, Surly announced it planned to shutter its beer hall indefinitely on November 2, putting all of those employees out of work. Employees picketed outside the beer hall on September 6 and filed a complaint against the company, alleging that the beer hall closure was an attempt at union busting.
Surly’s beer hall revenue had declined 82% during the pandemic compared to the same period last year, the company said when it announced the beer hall’s impending closure. Surly estimated it would lose $750,000 by the end of the year if the beer hall remained in operation.
“A drastic change was needed to stabilize the company and ensure the continued operations of our core business, brewing,” Surly wrote.
Unite Surly Workers, the organizing group, shared on social media that its members hope to return to Surly if the beer hall reopens.
“If Surly reopens in the spring, next summer, or in 2022, those who lost their jobs should have the choice of whether they would like to come back or not,” the group wrote on Instagram. “Additionally, we want a union to be in place for whenever Surly decides to reopen, whether it is with the current crew or a new one. These future workers should be able to better decide their benefits, wages and rights.”
When employees were informed the beer hall would close on November 2 and their jobs were eliminated, they were also told they did not have “bumping rights” and could not take another job elsewhere in the company. Employees involved in Unite Surly Workers are still working at the beer hall and implored supporters to visit before it closes.
“Every day is an emotional rollercoaster, so come show us support as we get closer to the last day,” they wrote.
Unite Here Local 17 has organized employees at several Minneapolis craft beverage producers in the last month. Minneapolis-based Fair State Brewing Co-op announced most of its employees joined the union which CEO Evan Sallee immediately recognized. In addition to Fair State, Unite Here Local 17 has unionized staff at Minneapolis distilleries Lawless Distilling and Stillheart Distillery. Management at both of those companies has recognized the unions.