Organize and Unionize

 

Eight months ago there were zero unionized Starbucks stores. Starbucks workers officially reached 200 union election wins across more than 30 U.S. states, a remarkable achievement in the face of a full-throttle union-busting campaign by the coffee company's management.  Starbucks workers have lodged hundreds of unfair labor practice charges in recent months, accusing the company's management of firing union organizers, slashing hours, and illegally threatening to deny pay raises and other benefits to unionized stores.

In addition to the number of elections won thus far, experts have also taken note of the union's strikingly high win percentage and the dozens of unanimous victories it has scored at locations across the country, an indication of Starbucks workers' overwhelming desire to organize in the face of poor treatment.

Workers at 316 Starbucks locations have filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

"Starbucks Workers United has won an amazing rate—about 5 of 6 elections," wrote labor journalist Steven Greenhouse. "It has won 52 unanimous votes."

"Across the country, Starbucks workers are striking against poor working conditions and the company's open hostility to Starbucks Workers United's nationwide union drive," said Robert Reich, the former head of the U.S. Department of Labor. "In one year, 200 U.S. Starbucks stores have unionized. I'm amazed by what these courageous baristas have achieved."

For Starbucks employees who have voted to unionize, the hard work is far from over: They now must win a contract, an arduous task given the CEO and management's open disdain for the collective bargaining push. At some locations that have won union elections, Starbucks workers have walked off the job to protest management's refusal to engage in contract negotiations as required by law. 

'Historic Moment in American Labor': Starbucks Workers Notch 200th Union Win (commondreams.org)