In a big win for the labor movement, a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York became the first unionized Starbucks store in the U.S. The vote sets a precedent and now over 100 stores have either unionized, announced plans to unionize, or filed for a vote.

Workers at Starbucks locations across the country have complained for years about the company’s labor practices, which include the inability to utilize sick time and a chronically chaotic work environment, only made worse by the pandemic. Employees also point to low pay, poor benefits, and unpredictable work schedules as driving factors behind the decision.  

Now, despite soaring profits and plans to raise costs, Starbucks is waging a massive anti-union war with workers. To date, their attempts have included: closing stores, sending executives in to surveil and discourage unionization, diluting the voting power of pro-union employees by packing the stores with new employees, scheduling pro-union employees at inconsistent hours, recruiting new employees in an attempt to form an ‘anti-union committee’, targeting union leaders for minor infractions, flooding the floor with managers, and hosting anti-union meetings.

Employees have received direct communication from leadership via email and text explicitly urging them to vote no on upcoming union votes. Pro-union workers have seen cuts to pay and benefits, and are being targeted as a retaliatory tactic for their support.

The company has recently gone as far as to fire the entire organizing committee at the Memphis location for speaking to the press.

Despite being a self-proclaimed progressive company, Starbucks leadership continues to pursue an agenda that prioritizes profit over people at every turn. It is overwhelmingly clear that Starbucks will stop at almost nothing to keep workers from unionizing.

The success of Starbucks employees that wish to unionize will rely heavily on support from the public and how we as consumers show up in this moment to support Starbucks workers.

We are calling on Starbucks leadership to completely halt all union-busting tactics the company is deploying to discourage the collective bargaining process.

Sign the petition to Starbucks: Halt all union-busting tactics.

Participating Organizations
More Perfect Union
Broward for Progress
Civic Action
Cleveland Jobs with Justice
Corporate Accountability
Daily Kos
DemCast USA
Jobs With Justice
LeftNet
Progress America
TakeItBack.Org