Historic Turning Point: Over 11,000 Starbucks Employees Unite for Workers’ Rights – The Biggest Battle Is About to Begin!

On Monday, baristas at the Starbucks store in Bellingham, Washington, became the 500th store to join the Starbucks Workers United union. This milestone marks a significant step in the movement for workers’ rights and the demands of baristas across the United States. Since the first store voted to unionize in 2021, more than 11,000 baristas have officially joined the union, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

Lynne Fox, president of Workers United, shared: “This milestone is a testament to the power workers have built from the ground up, starting right at their workplaces.” She also emphasized that Starbucks employees have courageously demanded a voice in their work and, through that, secured strong contracts that ensure respect, living wages, racial and gender equality, fair scheduling, and other benefits.

In February, Starbucks and the union announced that they would engage in negotiations through a collaborative process to build a foundational framework. Since April, both sides have been meeting monthly at the bargaining table, and in the past six months, 100 new stores have successfully unionized, according to the union.

Brian Niccol, CEO of Starbucks, who assumed the top leadership position at the coffee chain in September, stated last week that the company is committed to negotiating in good faith with the union to build a sustainable labor agreement. The framework they are negotiating will serve as the foundation for collective bargaining agreements between individual stores and the company.

Both the union and Starbucks have acknowledged that negotiations have made significant progress, with many measures being introduced and advanced. This indicates a positive shift in building a fair and sustainable relationship between both parties.

Baristas from the Bellingham store sent a letter to Brian Niccol, explaining why they chose to organize a union. In the letter, they wrote: “Starbucks’ success in rebuilding its brand depends on whether we, as baristas, receive the necessary support to do our jobs well. In turn, we can ensure customers have an excellent experience and keep coming back.”

In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson said: “We respect our partners’ rights to choose on the issue of unions,” adding: “We are proud of the progress we have made in bargaining and are committed to continuing to work together to achieve our shared goals.”

This event marks a significant step not only in advocating for fair workers’ rights but also reflects a shift in how large corporations engage and communicate with their workforce.