Starbucks workers have reached 200 stores that are now unionized this week. The union has increased the number of filings by more than 200 stores in just six weeks.
As noted by More Perfect UnionThis milestone represents an acceleration in the union drive. The first 100 stores were able to file for unionization in a matter of 172 days. The second 100 stores only took 48 days. The average store now files more than two stores per day and has filed in 30 states. Union filings cover more than 5,000 workersAll across the country
Starbucks Workers United has also doubled the number stores that have formed a union. Just About a month agoSix stores had voted for unionization; 13 stores voted yesterday to form a union. More elections are in the works.
After their votes were counted Thursday, three Rochester stores won a union. This marks the first time that Rochester stores have voted to unionize. There are now unionized stores in New York, Arizona, Washington and Tennessee, including the company’s flagship roastery in New York City.
“My heart is so full. I couldn’t be more proud of the strength, patience, and perseverance our team demonstrated throughout this very difficult transition,” said Michaela Wagstaff, a shift supervisor and union organizer at a suburban Rochester store, at a press conference. “To others who wish to begin this journey, it’s real and it’s possible. To those who paved the way, thank you for allowing us to learn from you and rely on you.”
Starbucks Workers United has won all but 1 of its union elections. This is despite a savage union-busting campaign by the company. The union appears to be increasing its tactics as it secures more wins. The company has been firingWorkers who support unions in an attempt to stop union efforts. While retaliating against workers is illegal, labor cases can take months or even years to investigate. This means that the union vote may be compromised even if it is later discovered that the company was breaking the law.
Starbucks recently fired Laila Dalton (union organizer) who was a worker in Phoenix, Arizona. The labor board discovered that she was not a union organizer. Previously illegally retaliated againstby the company. Dalton, the only Black person in her store, was threatenedManagers and Starbucks HRShe was interrogated about her union organizing by a male detective who asked if she had made any false accusations of racism.
The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over Dalton’s firing, saying that her firing was a violation of labor laws. The NLRB Previously foundAlyssa Sánchez, another Phoenix union organizer, was fired. This is illegal.
The company has spent millions on anti-union efforts. It recently fired its top general counselAccording to Rachel Gonzalez, Rachel Gonzalez received $5.3 million in compensation for her work last year. Bloomberg Law. This termination is likely to be related to the union-busting drive that interim CEO Howard Schultz seems to be planning to intensify.
Schultz stated that Monday was his first day as interim CEO. companies like Starbucks are “being assaulted in many ways by the threat of unionization.” He referred to unions as “outside organizations” that are driving a wedge between management and employees — even though union organizers have repeatedly insisted that the workers themselves make up the union, and that the only party creating division is management.
Workers have repeatedly asked Schultz and former CEO Kevin Johnson to sign onto their “Fair Election Principles,” which outline non-interference guidelines for the company.
“We know that this is a victory and we will celebrate it as such, but we won’t feel true success until Starbucks signs the Fair Election Principles to allow others the room to truly engage in an unbiased election,” said Maggie Carter, an organizer in Knoxville, Tennessee, when the Knoxville store won their union last week. “This company can do so much better for us, and we can’t wait to show the entire country exactly what that looks like.”
