Colectivo Union Leaders Ask For Reverse Boycott Over Labor Day

WAUWATOSA, WI—Leaders of the recently won Colectivo Coffee International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labor union are asking the public to partake in a reverse boycott of Colectivo locations.

A reverse boycott means instead of refusing to buy something, people go out of their way to buy something as a show of support, according to a news release from IBEW.

IBEW Local 494 has planned the reverse boycott for all Colectivo locations, including 6745 W. Wells St. and 9125 W. North Ave. in Wauwatosa.

Workers at Colectivo won their union drive after a ballot recount by the National Labor Relations Board. Several ballots cast by workers were disputed because they had since left the business. The NLRB determined those ballots were still made in good faith, so they were counted.
The count put the final vote tally in favor of unionization 106-99, Patch reported.

Union leaders say People can show their support for the union win by downloading the Colectivo mobile app and writing their name for drink orders as "IBEWSTRONGyourname," a news release from IBEW 494 said.

The reverse boycott will be held from Sept. 3-6.

"You will now be able to order your coffee from a union member at all Colectivo locations," said Dean A. Warsh, IBEW 494 business manager. "When you are able to form a union, every worker would have a collective voice and an equal seat at the table. If the owners of Colectivo don't succeed, the employees don't succeed. We look forward to working with the owners of Colectivo as we start the bargaining process for the employees."

The reverse boycott is similar to one held in November of 2020 during initial union drives.

John Quinnies, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.