Former Workers at Sis Got Tea Reveal Labor Abuses
Benjamin A. Berry
5/1/2024
Two former workers at Sis Got Tea have released statements revealing numerous labor abuses from their former employer. The first statement, written by Miles, the former Tea Specialist of the company, was posted simultaneously on Facebook and Instagram on the evening of Friday April 12th and details months of issues in receiving wages from the business. In the post, Miles outlines the precarious financial situation she has endured due to this and highlights the fact that Sis Got Tea ownership has been very public in their transparency and vulnerability regarding the numerous business struggles, but has consistently failed to address workers’ concerns over unpaid labor. Even more galling is that Sis Got Tea has advertised job openings promising livable wages and a healthy work environment, all the while delaying pay due to their current workers. Miles reports that she and other workers have repeated approached the owner regarding the situation, but have been met with excuses and obfuscation.
The next day, on the morning of Saturday April 13th, a second statement was released simultaneously on Facebook and Instagram. Written by Amia, also a former Tea Specialist with the company, this statement supports the claims made by Miles. Amia cites the pay delays and issues for her eventual departure from the company, along with “overall mismanagement of many aspects of the business.” In her statement, she observes that “the well-being of employees seemed to consistently take a backseat to business needs.”
“There are many steps that need to be taken in the right direction for the success of Sis Got Tea and I hope this statement serves its purpose in giving the owner an opportunity to be accountable and ask for support with workers coming FIRST, before any business need.” Miles said in her statement. “I truly believe there is a chance for redemption for my employer, but it absolutely must begin with total honesty and accountability. I hope this message is met with the same empathy I have shown my employer throughout our months and months of struggle.”
Self-described as “Louisville’s Black-, Queer-, Woman-Owned Tea Shop and Café,” Sis Got Tea began as an online tea shop in 2019, opening its brick-and-mortar store in 2023. Social media posts from the company reveal a history of financial problems with numerous requests for community support and donations. Though the owner and company have provided wonderful services to the Louisville community since Sis Got Tea’s founding, this appears to be a clear example of an owner putting overhead and other business-related expenses above her workers—the very people who make the company run. Exploitation, no matter the personal intersectional identity of the exploiter, is always wrong and cannot be used as an excuse for wage theft.
Already there are reports that friends of the owner are harassing and bullying the two former employees who have exemplified courage and solidarity by releasing their statements. On April 13th, Sis Got Tea posted on social media that the company would be “CLOSED until further notice… while I work to address statements made by former employees regarding business transparency, delayed pay, and concerns of bullying, intimidation, and worker mistreatment.” This was reversed the following day, Sunday, in another social media post.
On Friday April 19th, Sis Got Tea posted on their Facebook and Instagram pages in response to the two statements. The post contained another statement, but not from the owner—instead, a current worker, Liliana, wrote the content, acknowledging the pay issues that Miles and Amia spoke of, but wanting “to show solidarity with Arielle (the owner) and Sis Got Tea…” In her statement, Liliana admits to seeking work elsewhere due to the pay delays, but chose to stay “because I saw how hard she (the owner) was working to keep this place open for those who need it, myself included.” At the conclusion of the post, a plan of action is included, promising “complete and total transparency,” “removing job positions that are not needed,” adding a “new accountant,” and stating that “remaining employees will be more involved in the behind the scenes work to ensure things are done in a more efficient and collaborative manner.”
Followers on Instagram pointed to the obvious fact that the allegations of wage theft were not debunked, but even reiterated in the statement. Other users feel the owner is using her power position over a current worker to release such a statement, a claim thoroughly rejected by Liliana—through her personal Instagram account, Liliana has been cordial and responsive to comments. She also stated that she has received backpay for unpaid wages; Miles, being a former worker, has not, stating she is still owed roughly $400 from Sis Got Tea.
On Monday April 22nd, Sis Got Tea owner, Arielle, finally released a statement on Facebook and Instagram, released in two parts. In her posts, Arielle did admit to and take responsibility for the wage theft. She also admitted multiple poor decisions which put business overhead expenses above paying wages to workers. While the statement seems genuine and there is a great amount of transparency and vulnerability within her words, one has to wonder if this would have been addressed if the former workers hadn’t of had the courage to bravely speak out. Again, regardless of the “size” of the business—mega international or small local—and regardless of the owner’s personal intersectional identity, failure to pay workers is unacceptable.
As of this article’s writing, the remedies offered by the owner seem to indicate a new direction for Sis Got Tea, specifically regarding relations with the workers. Because of the laudable services offered by the company to the community, there is a desire, from current workers, former workers, and the community, for the business to become sustainable and to continue on, despite this major revelation. Suggestions offered to the owner, which The Class Struggle Chronicle wholeheartedly agrees with, is for the owner to either voluntarily recognize a union for her workers or for the company to transition to a worker-owned cooperative like the much-loved Old Louisville Coffee Co-Op in Old Louisville.
In solidarity with Miles and Amia, The Class Struggle Chronicle reposts their statements here for our readers and encourages those who are able to contribute to Miles’ Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal to assist her during this difficult time. The statement by Liliana, the current worker at the company, along with the owner’s statement, follows the first two statements.
