Surly management, employees reach agreement on union election process

Kyle Brown

[Surly Brewing Company Facebook]

Workers seeking to unionize at Surly Brewing Co. announced on Thursday they have reached an agreement with management on a union election process.

Surly employees announced their intent to unionize shortly before the brewery informed workers it would shutter its beer hall indefinitely starting Nov. 2. The union filed an unfair labor charge against Surly alleging the closure was a union-busting effort; that complaint has now been withdrawn, according to Thursday’s announcement.

We are excited to announce that Surly Management has agreed to a fair election process that the workers support. We appreciate Surly’s efforts in reaching this agreement on a fair process. In the interest of moving forward and working together the worker committee 1/3
— UNITE HERE Local 17 (@UNITEHERE17) September 24, 2020

"The union recognizes the financial and operational challenges Surly has faced since the start of the pandemic," the announcement states. "The union has withdrawn the unfair labor practice charge alleging that closing the beer hall was related to its organizing efforts."

Surly workers will be voting for representation by Unite Here! Local 17, the Twin Cities’ hospitality workers’ union, which has added Fair State Brewing Cooperative and several distilleries to its roster in the past few weeks.

Surly Brewing Company employees call for unionization