Help Make a Worker Co-op Cafe in Providence!
Donation protected
A workers owned co-op! This is big! We-- the community, customers, and employees of White Electric-- have a truly exciting opportunity to create the kind of business that we can all be proud of. One that is dedicated to fair labor practices, racial justice, and that listens to the needs of its community and its workers. The employees of White Electric are dedicated to making that kind of business happen. Help us make that business a reality!
Here’s the story: A few months ago workers of White Electric Coffee decided to form an independent union, CUPS (Collaborative Union of Providence Service-workers). On August 28th we asked the current owners of White Electric for voluntary recognition of our union and on August 30th they agreed. On September 8th we held a card check confirming staff support of our union, and CUPS was officially born! That same night we heard from the owners that they were listing the cafe for sale and would favor the option of transitioning to a worker owned + run cooperative business. We are excited that CUPS is now a recognized independent union and are working to make that worker owned co-op happen!
We, the cafe workers, believe a new worker-owned business model will benefit and inspire the communities we serve and the communities we represent. All the funds raised from this drive will go directly to securing the down payment needed to transition ownership of the cafe from its current proprietors to the worker owned co-op. While we are also exploring grants and other methods of funding, this gofundme represents an important portion of the total cost to buy White Electric. Your contributions will have a huge impact in making that goal a reality! An outpouring of support from our customers and neighbors would mean so much to us and would send us the clear message that this co-op is a truly collective goal!
Our deepest thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far in our collective push for racial and workplace justice over the past months. Thank you. For real. We're thrilled to celebrate the recognition of our independent union, CUPS, and excited about the possibility of turning White Electric into both a unionized workplace and a workers owned co-op! Thank you!
Stay in touch and follow our story:
[email redacted]/ Twitter + Facebook @wecafeworkers
Here’s the story: A few months ago workers of White Electric Coffee decided to form an independent union, CUPS (Collaborative Union of Providence Service-workers). On August 28th we asked the current owners of White Electric for voluntary recognition of our union and on August 30th they agreed. On September 8th we held a card check confirming staff support of our union, and CUPS was officially born! That same night we heard from the owners that they were listing the cafe for sale and would favor the option of transitioning to a worker owned + run cooperative business. We are excited that CUPS is now a recognized independent union and are working to make that worker owned co-op happen!
We, the cafe workers, believe a new worker-owned business model will benefit and inspire the communities we serve and the communities we represent. All the funds raised from this drive will go directly to securing the down payment needed to transition ownership of the cafe from its current proprietors to the worker owned co-op. While we are also exploring grants and other methods of funding, this gofundme represents an important portion of the total cost to buy White Electric. Your contributions will have a huge impact in making that goal a reality! An outpouring of support from our customers and neighbors would mean so much to us and would send us the clear message that this co-op is a truly collective goal!
Our deepest thanks to everyone who has supported us thus far in our collective push for racial and workplace justice over the past months. Thank you. For real. We're thrilled to celebrate the recognition of our independent union, CUPS, and excited about the possibility of turning White Electric into both a unionized workplace and a workers owned co-op! Thank you!
Stay in touch and follow our story:
[email redacted]/ Twitter + Facebook @wecafeworkers
Fundraising team: CUPS Cooperative (4)
Evan Raczynski
Organizer
Providence, RI
CUPS Cooperative
Beneficiary
Chloe Chassaing
Team member
Joelle Plante
Team member
Kelley Parsons
Team member