Starbucks Workers Fight for Union

Published October 16, 2024

               

Starbucks Workers United has been going for a few years now. But finally, on April 24, 2024, Starbucks management sat down with union representatives in Atlanta to negotiate a frame-work  for bargaining union contracts for the nearly 400 unionized stores. 

Starbucks employees have gathered close to 700 unfair labor charges against the company, which are at various stages in the process of the National Labor Relations Board. Approximately 250 of those cases involved the termination of employees. Starbucks initially increased wages for workers, but they limited it to only nonunionized locations. However, with the backlash that ensued, the wage increase was given to all locations instead of just nonunion locations. 

Workers in Buffalo, New York were the first to unionize in December of 2021 and formed Starbucks Workers United. This would continue as workers at other stores fought for better wages and benefits. A month later, 54 other Starbucks stores tried to unionize with some success. Union members advocated for being partners as part of the company because this is the way the company refers to its employees. With many goals in mind, they are trying to help fix the short staffing, unpredictable scheduling, low wages, sexual harassment, and other issues. As of May 7, about 370 Starbucks stores have unionized around the country. 

The road to unionization has not been without obstacles. Starbucks, like many large corporations, has deployed various tactics to discourage or thwart unionization efforts. These tactics have ranged from holding mandatory meetings to dissuade workers from unionizing to retaliation against employees involved in organizing activities. 

On February 8, 2023, a Starbucks in Memphis fired seven workers for their attempts to unionize the store. Starbucks continues to deny these firings were due to union organizing. 

Senator Bernie Sanders, a supporter of unions, called out ex-CEO Howard Schultz, who appeared in the Senate committee that Senator Sanders chairs, for his union-busting activities on March 29, 2024. 

Despite these challenges, Starbucks workers have remained steadfast in their determination to achieve collective bargaining rights. Additionally, the coffee chain was against employees decorating during Pride month while Starbucks claimed to have supported LGBTQ+ workers. In 22 states, baristas have stated that they faced discrimination by their store managers, were told that they would not be able to decorate for Pride month, or even had managers take down their Pride flags. Places like Oklahoma were shown to have prohibited stores from hanging Pride flags on their store windows due to the reasoning of not wanting to be a target of a hate crime. 

The impact of Starbucks unions extends beyond the coffee giant itself. The success of unionization efforts within Starbucks has the potential to inspire workers in other industries to pursue similar initiatives. As the labor movement gains momentum, it sends a powerful message about the importance of worker solidarity and collective action in addressing systemic issues of income inequality and workplace injustice. 

While some locations have successfully voted to unionize, others are still in the early stages of the process. Regardless of the outcome, the movement has already succeeded in sparking a broader conversation about labor rights and corporate accountability. The growth of Starbucks unions represent a significant development in the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights. By organizing and advocating for change, Starbucks employees are not only seeking to improve their own working conditions but also setting a precedent for collective action in industries across the globe. 

In the coming months and years, the battle for union recognition at Starbucks will undoubtedly intensify as workers and management square off in negotiations over wages, benefits, and working conditions. The mere fact that baristas are standing up and demanding change represents a seismic shift in the labor landscape—one that has the potential to reshape the future of work for generations to come.

As baristas continue to raise their voices and fight for their rights, they are sending a powerful message to corporations everywhere: workers are not just cogs in a machine, but individuals deserving of respect and fairness.

By Nicholas Zhang