Workers at Kim's in Uptown win union election

Workers at Kim's in Uptown Minneapolis have voted to form a union.

The election, held on June 27, saw 65% of Chef Ann Kim 's service and kitchen staff vote yes on unionization.

They now join Unite Here 17, which represents many hospitality workers in Minnesota, including workers at Fair State Brewing, Brother Justice Whiskey, and the St. Paul Grill. The two sides will now begin negotiations on a contract.

Workers notified the restaurant of their intention to unionize in late May. Management pushed back against unionization, declining to voluntarily recognize the union. "We wholeheartedly believe we can do this together without a union," Kim wrote on Instagram on June 9.

Later, i nternal messages were released , showing management pushing staff to vote against a union. "Unionized workplaces tend to become adversarial ('us versus them' — don't you already feel that now?)," management wrote, arguing that dues and the drawn-out process wouldn't get staff the results they wanted.

However, it appears the results the majority of workers wanted were union representation.

"From the beginning, our goal has always been to give our team members the opportunity to participate in a fair election and cast their own vote," Kim said in a statement. "It was important to me that everyone's voice was heard. I respect the election results and look forward to working with the team as we move into the future."

The Korean-American restaurant is the first of the chef's restaurants to unionize. She also owns Young Joni , Hello Pizza, and Pizzeria Lola.

Announcing the results, Unite Here characterized the opposition as "a persistent anti-union campaign by the employer," adding that "workers are eager to get to the bargaining table to work toward solutions that can improve working conditions and ensure the restaurant's ongoing success for all."

No timeline has been shared for when the two sides plan to begin work on a contract.

"I started organizing because I was tired of worrying about my income week to week," Kaylee Murphy, a bartender and server at Kim's, says. "I've been devoted to hospitality for 20 years. I felt it was time I got some devotion back."

They continued, "Kim's being a union restaurant is such a benefit to Uptown, because I know improving our jobs will also improve the restaurant for everyone. I'm excited for the future and look forward to bargaining a contract."

The election at Kim's is part of a string of labor organizing around the Twin Cities, which includes the staffs of Daniel del Prado's Colita and four Café Ceres locations informing management of their desire to unionize earlier this month. There has also been a push to establish a Labor Standards Board that could recommend workplace regulations that would impact area restaurants. Restaurateurs have voiced strong opposition to the project, saying it has the potential to negatively impact their businesses.