Starbucks workers have unionized at record speed; many fear retaliation now

Starbucks workers have unionized at record speed; many fear retaliation now

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David Diaz Garcia (left) and Bryan Rosario (right) both students, participated in a “sip in” inside the Starbucks at 22nd and South Streets to offer solidarity to workers fighting to unionize on Labor Day, September 5, 2022. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

David Diaz Garcia (left) and Bryan Rosario (right) both students, participated in a “sip in” inside the Starbucks at 22nd and South Streets to offer solidarity to workers fighting to unionize on Labor Day, September 5, 2022. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

(Undated) — Starbucks workers are busy this fall, and not just with making pumpkin spice lattes. This month, workers from hundreds of unionized Starbucks stores are expected to sit down for collective bargaining for the first time, while others will vote in still more union elections to come.

So far, more than 300 Starbucks stores in close to three dozen states have had union elections — a stunning number, given not a single company-owned store had a union at this time last year. Even more remarkable is that 80% of them, or around 245 stores, have gone in favor of forming a union.

In the past week, Starbucks locations in Washington, D.C., Albuquerque, N.M., and Westlake, Ohio, became the latest to join the national union Workers United.

The impressive numbers showcase how Starbucks baristas have turned a grassroots campaign into a national labor movement with lightning speed.

But they hide another plain truth, which is that unionized stores make up less than 3% of the 9,000 company-operated Starbucks stores around the country. What’s more, the number of stores petitioning to hold union elections has dropped dramatically in recent months. The flood of activity in the first half of the year, with a high of 71 petitions filed in March, gave way to a summer lull, with eight petitions filed in August.

Starbucks is facing more than 325 unfair labor practice charges

Organizers blame the slowdown in their momentum on what they call Starbucks’ “scorched-earth” campaign to crush the union.

Under its legendary CEO Howard Schultz, who returned to lead Starbucks in April, the company has taken a wide array of measures to aggressively fight the union — from blanketing employee communications with anti-union messaging, including in one-on-one meetings, to announcing raises and benefits for nonunion stores only, to firing workers identified as union leaders.

Starbucks has forged ahead with these actions despite being charged with violating the federal labor law that protects workers’ rights to organize. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is tasked with investigating the more than 325 unfair labor practice charges brought by the union.

So far, NLRB regional offices around the country have issued 35 formal complaints against Starbucks, citing the company for coercing, threatening and firing employees over their union activities and withholding wage increases and benefits from unionizing stores.

Starbucks denies any wrongdoing.

“We respect our partners’ right to organize but believe the best future is created directly with partners and not a third party,” company spokesman Reggie Borges said in a statement.

Union organizers say that the company’s tactics are working: Starbucks’ sustained campaign has had its intended chilling effect.

Michael Vestigo of Kansas City, Kansas, who claims he was fired by Starbucks, speaks while dressed as Apollo the Wolf during the “Fight Starbucks’ Union Busting” rally and march in Seattle on April 23.

Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images

Added benefits for nonunion stores have led newcomers to question the union

Starbucks has one clear and consistent message: Employees don’t need a union because the company has always provided for them — with competitive wages, health care, free college tuition and other benefits.

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