Paul Gores

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Employees of Stone Creek Coffee have voted against forming a union.

Of 102 ballots cast, 38 were in favor of a union and 52 were opposed, according to co-owner Eric Resch. Ten votes were contested and two ballot envelopes weren't signed and therefore not counted. In all, 139 employees were eligible to vote.

The vote was conducted over two weeks and counted Tuesday morning at the National Labor Relations Board in Milwaukee.

The union effort began when a group of Stone Creek employees who were unhappy with pay and working conditions sought the help of Teamsters Local 344.

RELATED:Upset with wages and other issues, some Stone Creek Coffee employees want to form a union

For example, union organizers contended starting pay should be higher than $8 an hour for baristas. But management said baristas make between $4 and $5 an hour in tips as well as the $8-per-hour starting pay, putting total compensation for starting baristas at $12 to $13 per hour.

In all, Stone Creek has about 213 employees. It has a dozen locations in metropolitan Milwaukee.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Resch and Stone Creek co-owner Melissa Perez said the results "affirmed that the majority of those who voted believe that our company, and our relationships, are stronger without a labor union at Stone Creek."

"Over the last month, we have heard from many of our co-workers within Stone Creek who shared how much they love their job and their work," Resch and Perez said. "For these kind words, and appreciation, we are sincerely thankful. We will work in partnership with those folks and the rest of the company to further our culture of care."

Resch and Perez continued: "The last month has been a profound learning experience for nearly all of us at Stone Creek. As we move forward we will work to continue to build our company with a focus on being coffee geeks, who never stop learning, creating remarkable care for each other and our customers."

Paul Gores can be reached at (414) 224-2392. Follow him on Twitter @pgores