Nearly 20 protesters demonstrate outside Duluth's Dunkin' Donuts construction site

April 1, 2015 Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 4:21 PM CDT

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) -- This protest might have happened on April Fools Day, but it was no joke.

Nearly 20 protesters held their ground for five hours to protest the construction at the Dunkin' Donuts site in Duluth on Wednesday.

Construction began last week at the site located at 104 W Central Entrance near Miller Hill Mall.

The restaurant will be owned and operated by Donco, LLC, which is headquartered in Hinkley, Minn.

The company hired Mark Haug Construction, based out of Pine City, Minn., to do the construction work; however, a construction worker tells us that Haug is not unionized.

The protesters were picketing because non-local construction workers were hired, and because Haug is not unionized, according to a construction worker.

The construction workers say they will not be surprised if the protesters are back at it on Thursday.

The company's CEO says they plan to open six more shops in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin over the next two to three years.

Dunkin' Donuts has told us the following in response to the protesters:

Read more:
Nearly 20 protesters demonstrate outside Duluth's Dunkin' Donuts construction site