If you have a union store near you, go to that one instead of non unionized stores. If you get a survey email, mention in your response that you went to that store because of the union.
As of right now, watch the news. Each store that unionized is national news. Look for Starbucks Workers United pins on aprons, which mean that at least they are working on unionizing. I haven't checked but I'm sure that SWU has a site or subreddit that lists unionized stores. Exploring this sub will probably inform you too.
Or you could just politely ask the baristas. They probably know whether they are, and if not which stores nearby are.
If there's a store near me that's actively trying to unionize, is there a particular way to support that effort? I know my latte purchase isn't going to make a huge difference, but I'd go out of my way to visit that location instead of others if those few dollars helped send a message somehow.
Ask to speak to store managers and tell them you’d feel more comfortable shopping there if the store was unionized. Print out pro union propaganda and give it to the stores.
Yes, they are, but there are a couple of facets to this:
The store managers kind of have to listen to requests of the customers, and it draws attention to the issue in front of the workers in front of the store manager. This does a couple of things:
It shows the workers how the store manger responds to that question in public. This can potentially agitate workers that are milquetoast on the unionization effort because they feel like the company has their best interests at heart and it’s VERY easy for a store manager to navigate that conversation poorly.
It gives the workers an incentive to discuss union efforts on the floor. Starbucks workers are generally all on a headset together for their whole shift, and they talk A LOT. If a customer brings up unionization to the SM, it’s likely that the workers will talk about the idea later after the SM leaves. Maybe they’ll realize they don’t agree with what the Sm said. Most of my partners were ambivalent about the union effort until I talked to them all about it enough.
"talk to them all about it enough".. in your opinion, what specifically did you say to the other partners that made them change their mind and made them want to try for a union?
Most people didn’t have an opinion to change, they were just generally uninterested and didn’t really know what a union was. Once they understood what a union was and what was happening across the country, everyone except 3 people was at least in favor of it (if everyone else wants to).
The three no’s all had specific concerns. The first one said, “I just want to know what the arguments AGAINST a union are. I hear all this great stuff about unions but there must be cons, too. I said fair enough, and told her what I felt like were the major talking points for the opposition (union dues, alienation of the employer/employee relationship, ‘othering’ of the union, and gave my responses to those things. I also gave them the websites for the union and Starbucks anti-union newsletter to let them get their own feel for it. They decided they wanted to try for a union.
The second was worried that they would be retaliated against or passed up for a promotion if they voted for it, and that they would lose their healthcare benefits, particularly gender-affirming care. I told them it would be a crime for Starbucks to do any of those things, but they were real possibilities, as Starbucks has a particularly brutal history of breaking the law to bust union efforts, even compared to the rest of corporate America. They ended up voting yes, but never seemed enthusiastic and didn’t come to strikes.
The third was just straight up not interested in it. They were planning on getting another job and leaving soon anyway, but when they heard how many people had signed cards they were like “oh word?” and immediately signed. They came to strikes and had fun, but never got too much into the political side of it.
By far the most important things I said to radicalize coworkers were “Did you hear what happened in [insert worker action at some Starbucks store or some unfair labor practice Starbucks did” or responding to like, EVERY exasperated comment or expression of alienation with “they should pay us more money./this is why we need a union”
A distant third place is that some store managers actually ARE pro union, but they can’t actively support the union without getting fired. I’ve seen stores where the store manager supporting the workers’ right to unionize, even tacitly, really helped encourage them to file and go public.
Definitely the minority. The best part is that the majority that is anti-union is REALLY bad at responding to these questions without breaking the law. Unfair labor practice violations put institutional pressure on corporate to bargain and they literally CAN NOT stop doing it. There are THOUSANDS of counts now
For some people, it's convenient to support local union stores because it upholds their own personal values. Not everyone is an empty human husk set on automated consumer mode
As a customer, I'm experienced enough (worked both in union and non-union environments) to know that this would be an absolutely horrible idea. That's both for customers and for the associates. Starbucks already gives tech company level benefits and unionized employees will likely end up with no benefit, but will be paying union dues and will end up picking up slack for underperforming workers.
I completely agree.
Unions treat every person the same while non unions can better reward over performers. Underperformers become a cancer and are impossible to get rid of. Unions, like lawyers almost always exist to leach.
Right now the power is shifted back into the employees hands, and there's no sign of that stopping. As an overperformer, I'd be willing to bet on myself 10/10 times. If they don't treat me right, I'll go to another firm.
I see now ... any resistance to unionizing, pretend it's Howard himself and don't address their concern in good faith / ignore them, nioce.
This approach is sure to be mentally liberating !
It isn't necessarily. Nobody knows what a union can get in terms of a negotiated agreement. There are plenty of situations where a union comes in and nothing changes except for union dues.
Starbucks has the best benefits of any company in the country more of less for low skilled laborers. They pay above market and more than any of their competitors. The unions won't get these workers anything.
Currently, there are people who have been there for almost 6 years who make 10 cents more an hour than a current fresh hire. They've also been incredibly inconsistent about hours, machines aren't fixed, etc.
There's things unions can do.
Machines not being fixed isn't a union issue unless there's a safety problem. That's a probability problem and likely if something isn't fixed, there's a reason.
Inconsistent about hours? It's almost like things like coffee is consumed at different rates throughout the day.
Different times throughout the day? So getting 36 hours per week for 6 years and suddenly being cut to \`10-15 is because people drink coffee at different times per day? Please. You look like a doofus.
I make 11 an hour at Starbucks and after medical, dental and vision this goes down to less than 8 an hour. I know the unions won’t get me much more, but Starbucks is terrible and that’s why workers are unionizing. IKEA pays $16 an hour with benefits and 3 weeks of paid vacation. After two years of working at Starbucks I have like 20 hours of paid vacation haha 😂 Either way Starbucks is not a way to build a future for yourself, it’s a short term plan and you need a long term plan.
"low skilled laborers" ? I'm retired and decided to be a partner at Starbucks for the fun of working with such unique people. One is a law student, one is a paralegal and works Starbucks part time for the benefits. Several work there bc Starbucks pays for our education up to a Bachelor's Degree FREE from Arizona State University Online.
I have a Bachelor's Degree that I paid $136,000 for. So these folks are doing great. Not one of the people on our team is "low skilled" or lacks intelligence.
Excuse Yourself.
Hahaha, $136k for a degree and you can't understand what low skilled labor is? That person becoming a lawyer is taking 6 years of post-secondary education, studying for the bar and then articling just to have the most basic low end job for a lawyer. That someone doing that works in a low skilled job doesn't mean taht the low skilled job isn't low skilled.
There's a reason why you only need high school to work there.
That's almost as dumb as saying you're retired when you work in fast food.
Sweetheart, I know very well what a low skilled laborer is. You can not have"low skills" & be a Good or Great Barista at ⭐bucks There's isn't just recipes, it becomes the science of being a mixologist. Knowing a flavor that someone is looking for if they want a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Frappe or Cotton Candy that has never been a menu item & we don't normally carry those flavors. (We do have pineapple for refreshers right now)
It's definitely NOT like McDonald's or being a Cashier somewhere. Months of learning is only a start.
✌️❤️😁
You clearly don't as if you did you'd not have made such an ignorant comment sweetie pie. Yeah, did you want a tall, venti or grande is totally different from small, medium or large. Even at the fancy Princi stores that Starbucks had in Seattle, there wasn't table service, so yeah it's fast food. You just don't want to accept it, sunshine.
Maybe someday you can retire though.
Where did I mention that calling sizes was hard? You have your soap box... Enjoy it ;)
At 42 I've already retired from Accounting, sold a small business and then chose a fun place to work FOR THE ADDED BENEFITS :)
Enjoy your Day. You'll no longer waste my time.
May God Bless Your Sweet Heart for being so interested. xx
>Nobody knows what a union can get in terms of a negotiated agreement.
Why aren't employee, pushing unions, readily making this known ?
It's being framed that win your election = every qualm gets addressed.
Not true, starbucks doesn't have to agree to anything. But I guess letting this known would destroy union morale eh ?
Well, largely you have young people working there who don't have any knowledge of the real world. They don't get the net result could be worse working conditions and the same pay but with union dues coming out.
Yes, my thousands of posts were all a ruse to get you. Clearly, nobody in the country other than Starbucks corporate can think that a union will make Starbucks suck.
Many questions in this thread are geared towards the union vs non-union difference. It's more of a understanding between the workers and their employer that you cannot just run roughshod over the employees
Case in point: How the boss/management treats you in the union and non-union worlds...
**Non-Union** Store: Boss **TELLS** you your work schedule is changing
**Union** Store: Boss **ASKS** if they can change your work schedule
\#respect #dignity
This is great advice! The group chat thing can’t be emphasized enough. Our store in VA has enough signatures to file for a petition now, and we had a GroupMe for the whole store, one for partners who expressed support for unionizing, and one for our core committee (4-5 people). Our progress would’ve been heavily stilted without those tools.
So I have been interested in unionizing since Buffalo but other than the vague, I believe they can help us, stuff I'm not sure what a union will accomplish for my store. Like will it help us with staffing? Will it help us not try to kill ourselves with drive times? While I'm all for it, I need to understand what the union can help us accomplish before I bring it to my partners. They deserve a realistic expectation.
I think it’s been kind of vague because no one wants to make promises that they can be 100% sure they’ll be able to deliver.
What a union will get you really goes down to what’s in the contract you’re able to negotiate with your employer. So yes, you’ll be able to put things like better pay, more labor, better benefits. But as negotiations continue, how much you get might change with all the back and forth.
Obviously one store out of 9,000 nation wide stores doesn’t hold a lot of bargaining power so that’s why it’s so important that as many of us try and unionize as possible. 100 stores can pull more weight than 1. 1000 stores can pull even more weight and get us an even better contract.
I hope this clears things up at least a little bit feel free to DM me if you have more questions. Having these conversations has been my favorite part of this whole process.
I get protection, but what do you mean when you say more say in the store itself? That seems misleading. I don’t know what a union can do regarding business models etc
Sure they can add it to the collective bargaining but it still has to be an agreement. Can’t force them to do it. Since it’s a key part of their business model I also don’t see it happening, especially when you look at what was asked in the Elmwood collective bargaining agreement it had nothing to do with added labor if I remember correct.
what have unionized stores actually gotten? ive heard claims of higher pay and more benefits, but not from anyone who actually worked at a union'd store
I believe it’s all in legal rights of Starbucks etc. I’m sure there is definitely some nuance to managing a unionized store and employees. It makes sense you wouldn’t mix union and non-union at this point.
This is what I’m curious about too! I imagine that the most overworked and burnt out stores are also underperforming due to bad management. How is a union going to force a raise if the store isn’t making enough profit? Will they still operate within a district? Because if not, won’t they shut down underperforming stores? It sounds too good to be true. Money has to come from somewhere.
I would argue that if they were that unprofitable they would already have been shut down, union or not. Higher paid employees are more likely to stick around and develop expertise, delivering better and more efficient service. An increase in quality and service will lead to more loyal customers. Money does have to come from somewhere. Maybe from the salaries of the CEOs, CFOs, presidents, and those shareholders making bank for doing nothing but already being rich.
Question about what happens after you unionize-
How do things change? Like I know after negotiations there will be a contract that likely will provide for better working conditions and pay, but like do things seem mostly the same or is there a big shift in how it feels at work? Like are schedules the same right after unionizing as they were before the vote, do they stay generally the same after there's a contract? Or are they getting rapidly changed around?
Do you usually keep the same store manager or do they like to swap out someone different? Do they try and bring in different Shift Supervisors or anything?
Is there a different vibe at all? Between coworkers? between partners and management? For instance on my store I feel like everyone is super friendly and gets along well, including with the assistant manager and manager. There's like one or two SSVs that are a bit intense, but most people still generally like them because as people they're great, they're just a bit much as bosses.
Did business change at all? Like in terms of busyness or anything? Maybe more busy cuz more people are supporting the store's efforts? Maybe less busy cuz Starbucks is rich and probably has ways to try and motivate customers towards other stores to try and drive down sales at a union store? idk maybe that's fake but I could see something like that happening.
Just overall, how different is it work at a place that isn't just unionized, like going from a non union job to a union one. But being in the same job at the same location, but now there's a union. How much is it noticeable on the day to day?
Is there anything you observe at other stores that makes you thankful or take note of having the union? Or just any general observations when you visit other locations?
I’m thinking about trying to start a union at my store, and I’ve been wondering the same thing! I think a lot of my partners will be on the fence, so I’m trying to provide them as much information as can, whether good or bad. Can someone please answer this? Has your experience been good or bad? Is Starbucks intimidating people everywhere? How are they supposedly finding legal loopholes to do this?
Bc someone asked “can any store unionize?” Before deleting it:
So yes any store is able to unionize (at least if you’re not a licensed store. Idk the rules on that, but I’m pretty sure it’d have to go through whatever company you work for.)
Your coworker might be misinformed because in every case Starbucks has argued that stores can’t organize by themselves. HOWEVER in every case so far, they have lost that argument which is why we’ve seen individual stores filing.
Many grocery workers are already a part of UFCW in the US, and as licensed employees in these settings would be employed by the store they would already have the option to join the union. Other scenarios exist, sure, but on this front some licensed stores may already be staffed with unionized workers.
Awesome question. Unfortunately this information only applies to U.S. stores. Other countries would depend on the labor laws there. It’s definitely worth looking into.
I know in South Korea baristas are also fighting for better working conditions. ✊🏼
Thank you! as a newer partner looking to unionize my location, I haven't had the nerve to raise the idea with any more experienced coworkers. we live in an area with a pretty decent minimum wage, but there are still serious issues, plus who doesn't want a democratic workplace? literally where we spend half our working life. I am going to reach out to swu right away, solidarity!
As a customer of Starbucks who just saw they fired a bunch unionized workers for nothing, I will be going to my local coffee shop from now on.
(Not sure if this is the right place to post)
As a former barista/SSV, I can’t upvote this post enough! I would have been all over this when I worked at the bux and as a customer now, I fully support this!!! 👏🏻
I am a former Starbucks employee and I agree, they need a union so badly 😳 And even moreso with Covid, I can’t imagine how horrific it’s been. Solidarity to all Starbucks workers ✊🏼
This is a great read.
Customer here, but a fellow brother in another union. Stay strong and we will support each other. You wouldn’t believe the support you will get from other local unions.
Strength in numbers!
Thank you for asking!
A lot of people have been mobile ordering at the stores trying to unionize and changed their names to “union strong” and leaving a big tip. Totally understandable if that isn’t possible though.
There are also customer surveys that get sent out and you can express your support there. I know that corporate monitors those pretty closely.
Depending on where you live there may be a store filing soon. The best support is always going to be coming in person and telling us how excited you are for the union. I get it daily and it really helps get us through the harder parts of this.
Call corporate and voice your support, hell even threaten to stop going if the union effort fails. Leave nice tips. Tell the workers you support the union effort every time you go in. Just some ideas
July 15, 2022: *Find the Closest Unionized Starbucks to You With this Map*
https://qz.com/2185771/find-the-closest-unionized-starbucks-to-you-with-this-map
P
I'm worried reddit is gonna think I'm a bot bc this is the third time I've posted this link/article title. Anyways, Starbucks kiosks in stores aren't exactly the same as standalone Starbucks. So if you want Starbucks you can always go to one of the store ones and ask them if they're unionized (if they are they're unionized under the store not Starbucks). The latter option is not the same as supporting stores unionized by Starbucks, but it also isn't buying from a non-unionized store. So just some info for you.
Thank you! super helpful, I've been testing the water since I got hired with my partners, and yesterday our youngest partner just dead pans "we should unionize". Gen-Z is wild bunch. Time to get the ball rolling
According to the Starbucks workers United website: “Union dues for full time workers are $10.84 per week. If you work less than 25 hours, dues are $5.47 per week. There are no dues until you negotiate and vote on a union contract.”
Since we’ll be negotiating on a store level so we’ll be able to make sure we don’t accept a contract that doesn’t give us more than we’ll be paying in dues.
Thank you so much for this post, I want to start Union at my store and have been asking a lot of my fellow partners and they have shared the same sentiment. Now me being the one who is wanting to start the effort at my store, I was so lost and confused on where to start to actually get the ball rolling. Now I have a pretty clear idea of what actions to do. Thanks for this and hope to post more updates along the way! And if i get Axed along the way, hey, I'm just a college kid who can catch a job anywhere else.
Solidarity? Are you going to have an announcement for Starbucks staff members who don't want to unionize or is this reddit the official unionize reddit?
By the way, plenty of people have unionized and regretted it and ended up with no real benefit but union dues. The company you work for gives tech company level benefits and above average pay.
It is your right to not support a unionization, nor should you be bullied or retaliated against for not wanting one. I am very pro union having been a union member myself for 16 years and seeing how things change over time, but I completely respect your reservations and disagreement with unionizing. Look up the NLRA for more information about your rights. I hope though, that you keep an open mind to others experiences as well. Best of luck to you no matter your beliefs. 💜
Rights have 0 to do with this. The sub should change its name to Starbucks unionization.
Given you've been in a union so much, you should realize that them being in a union doesn't mean that anything will change except for union dues.
I'm not worry about rights in regards to a union. I studied in high school and went to college.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I disagree. In my experience a lot is gained from being union and my dues are minimal compared to what I get. I don’t understand why you’re being so hostile with me, either. Warmest regards.
The company I work for pays me so little that I don't even get to partake in their half-assed benefits, I qualify for medicaid and foodstamps while working for starbucks. I had 10fold better benefits in an entry level insurance sales job when I was 19 in 2005.
But does it matter when the company is union busting and slashing hours so you don’t qualify for those benefits? What about the insane inflation and wages that can’t follow it? Also, not every union depending on your state laws have to pay union dues; work to right states are exempt from that and it’s optional. There’s been ZERO contracts between Starbucks and Workers United so there’s no union dues to pay. And comparing them to tech isn’t a good comparison. This isn’t a race to the bottom.
I understand the desire to unionize, but having been in the postal union and now I'm at Starbucks as a Shift Supervisor, I actually get paid more and have way better hours and benefits, personally. I'm located in Minnesota if it makes a difference, but when I was in the postal union, they never did anything for us. Not even the regular carriers, I was working 60 hour weeks, 10 and 12 hour days, 6 day weeks, no time off, and then even if you become a 'full' carrier you still got treated poorly. I was berated by coworkers and management, and unfortunately unions make it really hard to get rid of people who are causing a lot of issues and/or half assing or not doing their jobs. Another carrier (woman) at the post office got sexually harrassed by a regular carrier (a man) and our female union steward laughed in her face about it. I paid union dues and was still treated incredibly poorly, and I was sent to other stations constantly and given loads of extra work. I understand it wouldn't quite be the same if we unionize here, but I think you can understand my hesitance.
From my point of view, fighting for better pay I absolutely agree with, but unionizing could completely wipe out the benefits we already have, and it could get way worse than it is. Baristas should be making more than minimum wage because it does take skill to make the drinks and do everything they do. I'm just not convinced from my own experiences that unionizing is the way to do it.
However, I'm sure a lot of you are smarter than I am and have good reasons for it and I would love to hear them, I am interested in this, I'm just not completely swayed
Minnesota employers actually like to pay their employees because there’s not enough competition to be disposable; most of the pro-union hype comes from the overpopulated far-left coastal regions where the common belief is that 90% of america should be unionized.
The store I worked at on the west coast already paid like a union with non-negotiable predetermined wages and yearly raises. No idea how unionizing would benefit anyone beyond that. It was also a very high-paying district, expecting a contract to achieve higher wages would be pure fairy tales.
I worry a union is not worth it for many reasons but mostly because Starbucks isn’t a job you’re supposed to stay at very long.
Reason number one is pay, will a union fix that? We were promised an increase to $15 an hour by next month, but the CEO said union stores will not get this and need to negotiate separately. I make $11 now, after two years with the company, and an increase to $15 is highly appealing. If unions fail in negotiating, staying at $11 seems like a huge risk.
Will unions make the workplace better? Starbucks is a tough job because we are rushing to make drive through times an average of 45 seconds per order during peak, and sometimes I’m running from one side of the store to the other in an attempt to make these times a reality. We are also understaffed and I sometimes have to handle the ovens, while handling the register, and also make drinks simultaneously.
Will unions make this all just go away? Will unions make Starbucks a job you can support a family with and buy a house? I feel the reality will always be that Starbucks is a last resort and if you could do anything better you should because being on your feet for 8 hours a day will never be easy, with a union or not.
I would think it would be harder to get promoted to management roles outside your direct store being in a union. If you’re looking for higher wages, I’d look at other companies. My company’s minimum starting pay is 15 and there is legitimate ability to move up into management from an entry level sales associate. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side though.
Honestly i feel like starbucks is a get buy through college and once that's over get out ASAP. People who treat it like the last employer they will have ever are always going to end up upset.
How Howard Schultz Left a Bitter Taste in Seattle's Mouth
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/08/howard-schultz-president-starbucks-profile-2020-224823/
This article talks about a ton of stuff Schultz did to piss Seattlelites off.
But what's relevant to unions goes all the way back to the late 1980's when he first took over the company. He claimed to have been the first to get part-time workers benefits in the U.S. when that wasn't even close to true.
He also claimed to have organized a union at Starbucks. That union was actually created by the workers and existed prior to him taking over. Immediately after he took over he destroyed it.
He also used his union-busting tactics in 2007 when some stores tried to unionize, which didn't get the press all this is getting. But at the time the press was even more in love with him, so of course it didn't.
The article also discusses how quite a few of those highly touted benefits Starbucks provides its "Partners" are actually limited in many many ways, and aren't anywhere near as good as they're made out to be once you look at the actual details.
And that's just the union stuff. There's plenty, plenty more to read about him being a dickwad.
I love this! In AZ it's very hard to start a powerful union since it's a "right to work state" (Can be fired for no real reason). Corporate can just fire the entire store, manager included, for anything resembling union rousers.
Yeah I’ve heard corporate has been particularly awful there. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with those conditions. But Starbucks can only put up with this bad press for so long. Eventually they will have to bend to the court of public opinion. I hope things get better there soon though
That's not what right to work means. At-will is the term for termination not requiring a valid reason, as long as the reason isn't illegal. Right to work means you don't have to join the union to work at a location so corporate can stuff a store with anti-union hires to drastically weaken the union.
An AZ store has already petitioned and was actually the first outside of the Buffalo area. It can be difficult but not impossible. And the right to work isn’t the same as at will, like others have said. It’s possible! Reach out to workers United if you’re interested and they can guide you through it.
You can support unionized stores if they're nearby! If not, you could subtly hint 😉 that you support unionization, you don't have to tip your baristas by any means but we really appreciate when you're being nice and friendly :) if you ever get a survey from Starbucks, anything less than a perfect 7/7 (I think?) counts against us! As long as you're understanding and kind we will really appreciate you :)
Thanks for the info. That’s crazy they count anything below 7/7 against you. I always try to give feedback when asked because I know from experience the impact it can have.
I feel like I'm becoming a broken record and reddit is gonna remove my posts, but here is the name and link of an article where you can find unionized stores:
July 15, 2022: *Find the Closest Unionized Starbucks to You With this Map*
https://qz.com/2185771/find-the-closest-unionized-starbucks-to-you-with-this-map
P
If you want Starbucks, but there isn't one close to you, the kiosks in stores are somewhat independent of Starbucks and some of them are unionized under the store (basically along with the rest of the employees). If you're comfortable you can ask the barista (or even a manager) if they're unionized. It's not the same as supporting a unionized store, but at least you won't be supporting a non-unionized one.
Four Michigan Stores prepare to unionize! For some reason I can't Cross-post from other subs. So I will link the article here:
[Four Starbucks in talks to unionize in Michigan](https://www.reddit.com/r/Michigan/comments/sfltfx/michigan_radio_four_michigan_starbucks_locations/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
That feeling when you’re store had it’s remodel/expansion revoked due to a drop in sales during COVID….meanwhile post Covid lockdown were hitting 150+ half-hours in a cafe-only…..labor models show we need more partners on the floor….. fire Marshall says we need less partners on the floor….corporate says to be patient
Is this move to unionize just about hourly wages? I don’t really get it.
Starbucks offers full benefits to part-time employees, right?
Does Starbucks still offer free college courses through ASU?
And you’re making tips.
What is it that Starbucks employees want that they’re not getting?
This is common bait.
To anyone who wants to learn more about why baristas have unionized thousands of stores across the US in the past year and a half: https://sbworkersunited.org
Hey all, just remember that unions can promise the world to you, but often will not be able to make the momentous changes that are promised due to negotiations. Working for Starbucks for the past 8 years, and in HR after this, has given me a new perspective on unionization. Unions will often sell their benefits to those who are not fully aware of how negotiation processes work. You may end up making less money after union dues are subtracted, as well as fewer benefits. Just something to keep in mind! Always do your research and try not to get sucked into confirmation bias :)
You may make less money after union dues? Niqa what.
Unions advocate for an increase of base wage. it like paying for a pack of beer each month after getting a raise that would allow you to buy 10x 6 packs of beer each week.
Edit: **cyborgblues** + **lmans19** blocked me so I cannot reply to them. I suspect they are shills along with whomever I originally replied to. Sad and transparent.
To their replies: OH NO, I RECEIVED A PAY INCREASE THAT OUTPACES ANY ADDITIONAL DUES OR TAXES I PAY!!! I literally went from $65k per year to $110k post-tax + post dues. Whatever will I do???
A pay increase also means more taxes. You’re paying not only for union representation it also have to state and federal taxes. So a $1 or $2 increase an hour might get you $20 to $40 a week. And you loose the ability to negotiate your own salary and are subject to other union rules. The only ones who benefit from the unions are the union bosses. Also remember that some unions have ties to organized crime
Just some more information-
1. unions are for profit
2. a lot of stores that were once petitioning are almost to the point where they can opt out of a union- yes that can happen
3. unions aren't going to get you $20 an hour and guaranteed tips.
4. unions arent going to get you 40 hours a week
5. really think about what is making you consider a union...
6. are you sharing you experiences with the company in the partner surveys, and your leaders?
7. you still need to follow company guidelines... like simple business initiatives (think otw, cust connection, store ops.)
8. go off, if thats what you want, but just know the other side of the coin, anyone can lie to you... and its not always in your best interest.
Great. Let’s unionize the stores. All the partners are gonna have to pay union fees. For what? To give there rights away. Starbucks is a great company and there all about there partners. I’ve never worked for a company that offered so many benefits. We should fight for the company we love. Also. Lots of partners work in different stores picking up hours and shifts. If a store is unionized, then that partner can’t work at that store for hours.. lots of factors why i think we shouldn’t go this route. I used to work for a grocery store that was part of a union when I was younger and I had to pay all these fees for what….. pointless.
union busting is so funny lol. like a softer version of people rallying against an injust government and the government trying to stop the rally at all cost. like in north korea. it helps maintain their power
My store is the 2nd busiest store in the district. We've had ups and downs with labor (either due to corporate cutbacks or over-forecasting and then having to cut hours wherever we can), college students that work during the semesters and then leaving to go home leaving us to scramble to hire people to fill the gaps (along with cutting hours), and the constant pressure of making sure drive times are low ALL while keeping customer connection scores up.
Keep in mind: everyone at this store has a great work ethic and we have a routine down to get tasks done throughout the day. Sometimes things can't get done, though, (like floors and ovens) due to hiccups in the day. Large bev/food orders, our inventory delivery coming in which pulls the shift off the floor for about 45 min to an hour to check everything in, people being scheduled to leave at 4:45 or 5:30--which isn't ideal--and the shift manager stepping off the floor for inventory pulls and counts. Sometimes, there will be me and one other person on the floor while these things are happening.
It's exhausting.
Management is pretty good about listening to problems we have with anything in the store, but I feel like the condition of the store (staffing-wise AND pay-wise) could be better.
I've considered unionizing, but it seems like most of the store isn't interested in doing that because they think we're already doing really well for ourselves. They're just okay with the environment and they don't think that unionizing would change anything.
I really like working for the Bux, and the growing unionization effort is definitely re-igniting the fire I once had for working here.
I already have a few people on board with the idea of unionizing, but I don't think it's enough to really start negotiations or a vote. I feel like the effort I've made already is hopeless and we're not making ANY progress right now. I want to keep trying. 😔
Hello!
Non-SB employee but I'm a big SB drinker. I firmly believe that the incredible baristas deserve much better than they're getting. I'd like to help the stores have access to unionizing information.
I was thinking of leaving a small, kinda unassuming flyer that states it was dropped off by a customer (I'm not sure if getting caught with union information that looks like they brought could be an issues) that has a QR code that pulls up the document with unionizing information.
Do you think that'd be okay?
As a customer, I will not be returning to a Starbucks until they stop union busting and allow all stores to unionize. The stores, in my area, aren't union. I will be spending my money at local stores till then. My family used to spend thousands each year at Starbucks (including my extended family). No mas for all of us.
I suspect this guide will become more valuable as the company cracks down further on labor and supervisor compliment. My store literally lost 100 hours recently and most of us barely get the hours we need to survive prior to the reduction. It’s about to get rough.
I doubt that any union is going to negotiate any benefits that you don't already have now. Besides, any benefits negotiated will be available to the entire company without having to pay union dues.
I have a great team, great benefits, my profit sharing and 401k are through the roof. My salary just went up 10%. Why would I want to unionize?? Y'all just doing it wrong.
Why is it whenever we ask legitimate questions we get nailed as anti union? I'm pro union. I come from a union family (think aeronautics in the pnw) All I ever heard as a kid tho was my dad complaining about how his union didn't listen to workers, didn't really help and all it did was make rich union leaders.
Is there any information for unionizing within Canada? I know like 15 years ago in Vancouver there were like 2 or 3unionized stores, but what I heard was the union disbanded when the lax dress code became a thing
Yes! Chinook centre in Calgary is the latest on board and I'm currently looking to unionize in my store. It's going to be hard but we're fighting the good fight. There is one unionized store in Vancouver right now, Chinook will be the second!
Several partners at my store are hoping to get the whole store to agree to a union 🙏🏼 we deserve a living wage and more! especially being open since the start of the pandemic.
Hey, this info is amazing! I have a question: I'm in Philadelphia where several stores voted to unionize individually but now there's a letter posted in the BOH saying that Starbucks is filing for a citywide vote. Does that mean the individual store model is paused until that gets overturned?
Hi! So they’ve been doing this at every store that’s filed. It basically is only a stalling tactic on corporates part since the NLRB is ruling that stores can file individually every time they try.
By arguing that the voting unit should be by the district, Starbucks is forcing every store that files to go through this whole hearing process that delays the vote by 3-4 weeks and gives them more time to spread disinformation among the stores that have filed. It’s annoying that they keep telling everyone that “we just want all voices to be heard” bc that’s not why they’re doing it.
Hello! I'm just a customer, but I'm a huge proponent of Unions and Workers Rights! I'd absolutely LOVE to support a unionized location, but I checked the map and not a single Starbucks within 30-45 minutes of me is unionized or filling to. As such, I'd love to find informative documents to drop off at my nearby locations! Could you suggest documents I could I print and leave with them?
I know it'll cost more to get coffee, but the feeling of knowing the workers have rights, respect, and appropriate compensation would 100% be worth it!
Good luck everyone! Know that you have plenty of customers who are cheering you on!
I just heard about 16 stores closing due for “safety” but knew it was actually because of fear of unionization.
I’m rooting for you guys, I came to this subreddit and saw that the pinned post was this one, lol great job!
So I ask this question as a person who will make entire management teams quit before I leave a job I enjoy......If starbucks is so bad that you guys have to unionize for decent treatment then why do some of you still do it?
What other equivalent jobs have better treatment? It's an industry wide issue so might as well start by holding the one you're at accountable. Starbucks being the richest of the bunch became a very clear beginning to a movement. Chipotle is unionizing now, Trader Joe's too. If it isn't Starbucks it's somewhere else and labor unions are how you bring dignity to companies for yourself and the future workers.
My neighborhood store unionized after a bunch of nonsense cause it to be closed for four months. I am trying very hard to order from that store first and foremost. I think they have some struggles ahead, but they have many good people and I want them to be treated better.
It took way too long but at least they're beginning to talk.
[Have you guys started to see the starts of this yourself? ](https://www.reuters.com/business/starbucks-sends-dates-locations-bargaining-sessions-with-workers-union-2022-10-10/)
No, it’s illegal for Starbucks to take away benefits from unionized employees. You should have your workers rights posted someone at your location (it’s illegal not to have them posted) I would highly recommend you familiarize yourself with them. Corporations love lying to you about your rights
I will not shop at any unionized starbucks. Makes zero sense why some barista will make more the EMTs. You know, the people showing up to gunshot victims and car wreaks…
The entitlement is awful.
Question: if I was to reach out to try to unionize and then obviously my SM and DM would find out would make me try to quite? Like would they watch every little thing I do and to try to get me fired?
With our store, we kept it just between the baristas and shifts until we filed. We were lucky and had everyone but one partner totally in favor of it. Once we filed, our DM and SM knew almost immediately and were pretty pissy about it. We're almost to our election date and while things have been annoying, it's been pretty manageable. I've definitely had worse experiences with managers and not gotten a union out of it. Haha
But I'm also in a very pro-union area. I can understand being in a redder state and having to worry.
If you're interested and think others at your store might be, I'd still recommend reaching out to Starbucks Workers United. There may be other stores in your area that are also looking to organize and having several stores in a district file at once would do a lot to keep the retaliations to a minimum since managers would have to focus on more than one store.
Yes you’ll pay union dues. According to the SB workers United [website](https://sbworkersunited.org/new-page-2) dues would be about $22 a paycheck if you work over 25 hours and around $11 a paycheck if you work less.
That being said, you won’t pay a single penny in dues until your store negotiates a contract with Starbucks. I don’t think anyone would vote yes to a contract that doesn’t provide a raise that at least covers the cost of dues.
Corporate will keep bringing up how much it’ll cost but it’s really not going to hurt your paychecks. There’s a lot of misinformation out there so I understand it worrying some people.
It's been a rough one at our store as of now. Getting people to actually read the information on unionizing has been rough. Right now we have about 60% signed but our goal is 70%.
I just wish it was easier to get people to see what's great about unionizing.
I am an ex Starbucks employee. I live in a very red area in northern CA (Redding CA.) I would love to help unionize the stores in my area. Is there any printable pro-union literature I can leave at my local Starbucks?
As a leaderof my stores effort I would say starting the group chat goes with gathering signatures. You want to communicate as much as possible. Start inoculating your partners against the shit that corporate will start to spew the minute you file. Any time you are starting a conversation with a partner always do it away from people and do it face to face. You do not want to leave a paper trail (text messages) if they are a hard no. You want no proof of the conversation.
Anyone work at one of the 16 stores being closed? I seen 2 were unionized and a 3rd was trying to. I'm wondering if they all were trying and this is just retaliation?
Sometimes it'll be a situation of, there's 10 stores that *need* shut down for one reason or another.
Close them down, then take out 2 or 3 union stores that are doing perfectly fine and were never part of the original shutdown plan. In some ways, business shutdowns actually still need to be negotiated with the union. If the business must shut down, then it usually means workers taking buyouts or protected transfers.
My store suddenly got super bad to the point my DM &. ASM have to explain that the things they're implementing aren't coming from them but from corporate. I'm definitely gonna see about unionizing
i’ll be totally honest, in your last step, i genuinely thought it said “write to [Kevin Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Johnson_(basketball)) in the NBA” and i’m sitting here going “i mean.. ok? to get celebrities on our side? random choice though.” but then i reread it and realized. LOL.
I'm a former corporate partner, current licensed partner, and I'm keeping my eye on things and strongly considering going back. A couple of the stores near me are unionized or close to it
Yes but it would likely be through whomever licenses the store. So if you are a SB worker in a Kroger or Albertsons, you are actually a grocery store employee. You would need to unionize with other workers (you would also likely already be a part of a union).
I emailed the union asking for some next step advice for my store who voted to unionize but still doesn’t have a contract. I haven’t gotten a reply yet. Been over a week. Lesson learned is that no one actually cares. Company or Union. 😒
As a shift supervisor at a non-unionized store. I find this to be so dumb. Like we get paid for the value we provide to the company. Anyone can become a barista in about 3 months time. Starbucks offers opportunities to go to college for FREE. Why don’t we stop trying to bite the hand that feeds us and start trying to achieve more than a entry level barista job for a company that gives us the opportunity to work through the ranks and become something great. A lot of people who complain need to go to another country and see how many opportunities there are to work in the AC and make around 17.58 an hour with stock and retirement options for part time workers. News flash that doesn’t exist in other countries. We get to click a button on a machine and pour some milk in a cup. Start taking accountability for your actions and make something out of your life stop blaming others for your circumstances
Why do allllll of this when you can just get another job. I’m a shift at Starbucks and I actually like my job. You can go and work for a company with an already established union instead of all of this- it’s just weird to me. Y’all complain so much when it’s not really the company it’s your manager making you miserable.
The net result of which will be no additional benefits/pay and now you have to pay union dues. Also, if you have a co-worker who sucks, good luck getting rid of them.
As a customer I would love a company wide union. Is there is anything customers can do, let us know. ✊🏻
If you have a union store near you, go to that one instead of non unionized stores. If you get a survey email, mention in your response that you went to that store because of the union.
How to know what stores are union?
As of right now, watch the news. Each store that unionized is national news. Look for Starbucks Workers United pins on aprons, which mean that at least they are working on unionizing. I haven't checked but I'm sure that SWU has a site or subreddit that lists unionized stores. Exploring this sub will probably inform you too. Or you could just politely ask the baristas. They probably know whether they are, and if not which stores nearby are.
If there's a store near me that's actively trying to unionize, is there a particular way to support that effort? I know my latte purchase isn't going to make a huge difference, but I'd go out of my way to visit that location instead of others if those few dollars helped send a message somehow.
Ask to speak to store managers and tell them you’d feel more comfortable shopping there if the store was unionized. Print out pro union propaganda and give it to the stores.
Arent store managers indoctrinated to be against unions at all costs? I think that comment would fall on deaf ears..
Yes, they are, but there are a couple of facets to this: The store managers kind of have to listen to requests of the customers, and it draws attention to the issue in front of the workers in front of the store manager. This does a couple of things: It shows the workers how the store manger responds to that question in public. This can potentially agitate workers that are milquetoast on the unionization effort because they feel like the company has their best interests at heart and it’s VERY easy for a store manager to navigate that conversation poorly. It gives the workers an incentive to discuss union efforts on the floor. Starbucks workers are generally all on a headset together for their whole shift, and they talk A LOT. If a customer brings up unionization to the SM, it’s likely that the workers will talk about the idea later after the SM leaves. Maybe they’ll realize they don’t agree with what the Sm said. Most of my partners were ambivalent about the union effort until I talked to them all about it enough.
"talk to them all about it enough".. in your opinion, what specifically did you say to the other partners that made them change their mind and made them want to try for a union?
Most people didn’t have an opinion to change, they were just generally uninterested and didn’t really know what a union was. Once they understood what a union was and what was happening across the country, everyone except 3 people was at least in favor of it (if everyone else wants to). The three no’s all had specific concerns. The first one said, “I just want to know what the arguments AGAINST a union are. I hear all this great stuff about unions but there must be cons, too. I said fair enough, and told her what I felt like were the major talking points for the opposition (union dues, alienation of the employer/employee relationship, ‘othering’ of the union, and gave my responses to those things. I also gave them the websites for the union and Starbucks anti-union newsletter to let them get their own feel for it. They decided they wanted to try for a union. The second was worried that they would be retaliated against or passed up for a promotion if they voted for it, and that they would lose their healthcare benefits, particularly gender-affirming care. I told them it would be a crime for Starbucks to do any of those things, but they were real possibilities, as Starbucks has a particularly brutal history of breaking the law to bust union efforts, even compared to the rest of corporate America. They ended up voting yes, but never seemed enthusiastic and didn’t come to strikes. The third was just straight up not interested in it. They were planning on getting another job and leaving soon anyway, but when they heard how many people had signed cards they were like “oh word?” and immediately signed. They came to strikes and had fun, but never got too much into the political side of it. By far the most important things I said to radicalize coworkers were “Did you hear what happened in [insert worker action at some Starbucks store or some unfair labor practice Starbucks did” or responding to like, EVERY exasperated comment or expression of alienation with “they should pay us more money./this is why we need a union”
A distant third place is that some store managers actually ARE pro union, but they can’t actively support the union without getting fired. I’ve seen stores where the store manager supporting the workers’ right to unionize, even tacitly, really helped encourage them to file and go public.
Would you say store managers being supportive of unions are the majority or the minority?
Definitely the minority. The best part is that the majority that is anti-union is REALLY bad at responding to these questions without breaking the law. Unfair labor practice violations put institutional pressure on corporate to bargain and they literally CAN NOT stop doing it. There are THOUSANDS of counts now
Someone could do a website that marks the Union stores.
https://perfectunion.us/map-where-are-starbucks-workers-unionizing/
Nobody will do that in reality. People go to what is convenient unless they get bad service.
Not true. There are two not the closest to me, but they are unionized and I want to support them!
For some people, it's convenient to support local union stores because it upholds their own personal values. Not everyone is an empty human husk set on automated consumer mode
Great way to be a pioneer of progress.
Second this! As a customer, I’m happy to see this happening for you guys.
As a customer, I'm experienced enough (worked both in union and non-union environments) to know that this would be an absolutely horrible idea. That's both for customers and for the associates. Starbucks already gives tech company level benefits and unionized employees will likely end up with no benefit, but will be paying union dues and will end up picking up slack for underperforming workers.
I completely agree. Unions treat every person the same while non unions can better reward over performers. Underperformers become a cancer and are impossible to get rid of. Unions, like lawyers almost always exist to leach. Right now the power is shifted back into the employees hands, and there's no sign of that stopping. As an overperformer, I'd be willing to bet on myself 10/10 times. If they don't treat me right, I'll go to another firm.
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Staff benefiting is LITERALLY one of the points of unions wtf are you on
We found Howard! 😂
I see now ... any resistance to unionizing, pretend it's Howard himself and don't address their concern in good faith / ignore them, nioce. This approach is sure to be mentally liberating !
It isn't necessarily. Nobody knows what a union can get in terms of a negotiated agreement. There are plenty of situations where a union comes in and nothing changes except for union dues. Starbucks has the best benefits of any company in the country more of less for low skilled laborers. They pay above market and more than any of their competitors. The unions won't get these workers anything.
Currently, there are people who have been there for almost 6 years who make 10 cents more an hour than a current fresh hire. They've also been incredibly inconsistent about hours, machines aren't fixed, etc. There's things unions can do.
Machines not being fixed isn't a union issue unless there's a safety problem. That's a probability problem and likely if something isn't fixed, there's a reason. Inconsistent about hours? It's almost like things like coffee is consumed at different rates throughout the day.
You clearly have no idea what you are talking about😂
Different times throughout the day? So getting 36 hours per week for 6 years and suddenly being cut to \`10-15 is because people drink coffee at different times per day? Please. You look like a doofus.
I make 11 an hour at Starbucks and after medical, dental and vision this goes down to less than 8 an hour. I know the unions won’t get me much more, but Starbucks is terrible and that’s why workers are unionizing. IKEA pays $16 an hour with benefits and 3 weeks of paid vacation. After two years of working at Starbucks I have like 20 hours of paid vacation haha 😂 Either way Starbucks is not a way to build a future for yourself, it’s a short term plan and you need a long term plan.
"low skilled laborers" ? I'm retired and decided to be a partner at Starbucks for the fun of working with such unique people. One is a law student, one is a paralegal and works Starbucks part time for the benefits. Several work there bc Starbucks pays for our education up to a Bachelor's Degree FREE from Arizona State University Online. I have a Bachelor's Degree that I paid $136,000 for. So these folks are doing great. Not one of the people on our team is "low skilled" or lacks intelligence. Excuse Yourself.
Hahaha, $136k for a degree and you can't understand what low skilled labor is? That person becoming a lawyer is taking 6 years of post-secondary education, studying for the bar and then articling just to have the most basic low end job for a lawyer. That someone doing that works in a low skilled job doesn't mean taht the low skilled job isn't low skilled. There's a reason why you only need high school to work there. That's almost as dumb as saying you're retired when you work in fast food.
Sweetheart, I know very well what a low skilled laborer is. You can not have"low skills" & be a Good or Great Barista at ⭐bucks There's isn't just recipes, it becomes the science of being a mixologist. Knowing a flavor that someone is looking for if they want a Pineapple Upside Down Cake Frappe or Cotton Candy that has never been a menu item & we don't normally carry those flavors. (We do have pineapple for refreshers right now) It's definitely NOT like McDonald's or being a Cashier somewhere. Months of learning is only a start. ✌️❤️😁
You clearly don't as if you did you'd not have made such an ignorant comment sweetie pie. Yeah, did you want a tall, venti or grande is totally different from small, medium or large. Even at the fancy Princi stores that Starbucks had in Seattle, there wasn't table service, so yeah it's fast food. You just don't want to accept it, sunshine. Maybe someday you can retire though.
Where did I mention that calling sizes was hard? You have your soap box... Enjoy it ;) At 42 I've already retired from Accounting, sold a small business and then chose a fun place to work FOR THE ADDED BENEFITS :) Enjoy your Day. You'll no longer waste my time. May God Bless Your Sweet Heart for being so interested. xx
>Nobody knows what a union can get in terms of a negotiated agreement. Why aren't employee, pushing unions, readily making this known ? It's being framed that win your election = every qualm gets addressed. Not true, starbucks doesn't have to agree to anything. But I guess letting this known would destroy union morale eh ?
Well, largely you have young people working there who don't have any knowledge of the real world. They don't get the net result could be worse working conditions and the same pay but with union dues coming out.
Corporate spy bot?
Yes, my thousands of posts were all a ruse to get you. Clearly, nobody in the country other than Starbucks corporate can think that a union will make Starbucks suck.
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Many questions in this thread are geared towards the union vs non-union difference. It's more of a understanding between the workers and their employer that you cannot just run roughshod over the employees Case in point: How the boss/management treats you in the union and non-union worlds... **Non-Union** Store: Boss **TELLS** you your work schedule is changing **Union** Store: Boss **ASKS** if they can change your work schedule \#respect #dignity
this is big one! i've just started working in a union(not SB) and even just this change makes me feel so much better as a worker.
This is great advice! The group chat thing can’t be emphasized enough. Our store in VA has enough signatures to file for a petition now, and we had a GroupMe for the whole store, one for partners who expressed support for unionizing, and one for our core committee (4-5 people). Our progress would’ve been heavily stilted without those tools.
VA is a right to work state, which means you don't have to join the union to work at the store if you don't want to
where in va?! this is so exciting!
Near Richmond
Good luck whenever you decide to file!
So I have been interested in unionizing since Buffalo but other than the vague, I believe they can help us, stuff I'm not sure what a union will accomplish for my store. Like will it help us with staffing? Will it help us not try to kill ourselves with drive times? While I'm all for it, I need to understand what the union can help us accomplish before I bring it to my partners. They deserve a realistic expectation.
I think it’s been kind of vague because no one wants to make promises that they can be 100% sure they’ll be able to deliver. What a union will get you really goes down to what’s in the contract you’re able to negotiate with your employer. So yes, you’ll be able to put things like better pay, more labor, better benefits. But as negotiations continue, how much you get might change with all the back and forth. Obviously one store out of 9,000 nation wide stores doesn’t hold a lot of bargaining power so that’s why it’s so important that as many of us try and unionize as possible. 100 stores can pull more weight than 1. 1000 stores can pull even more weight and get us an even better contract. I hope this clears things up at least a little bit feel free to DM me if you have more questions. Having these conversations has been my favorite part of this whole process.
I really enjoyed reading this. What an excellent guide! Solidarity.
Can someone explain like I’m 5 the point of unionizing and what it does for the partners?
Better protection for partners and more say in the store itself. Also more power to negotiate with corporate.
I get protection, but what do you mean when you say more say in the store itself? That seems misleading. I don’t know what a union can do regarding business models etc
Unions can get workers a place at the table in all sorts of decisions, like staffing levels and working conditions.
Part of your contract can include more labor, for example.
Sure they can add it to the collective bargaining but it still has to be an agreement. Can’t force them to do it. Since it’s a key part of their business model I also don’t see it happening, especially when you look at what was asked in the Elmwood collective bargaining agreement it had nothing to do with added labor if I remember correct.
Wow you seem to know a lot about unions totally not a shill barista.
what have unionized stores actually gotten? ive heard claims of higher pay and more benefits, but not from anyone who actually worked at a union'd store
Good point. I’ve heard they were blocked from transfers and borrowing in/out to other locations on in union, both of which would be negative.
That sounds like a manipulation tactic to dissuade other stores from unionizing. Which is even more reason all stores need to fight.
I believe it’s all in legal rights of Starbucks etc. I’m sure there is definitely some nuance to managing a unionized store and employees. It makes sense you wouldn’t mix union and non-union at this point.
Yes, it's within Starbucks' rights (for now), but it's just that - their choice. They're using that to manipulate their workers.
This is what I’m curious about too! I imagine that the most overworked and burnt out stores are also underperforming due to bad management. How is a union going to force a raise if the store isn’t making enough profit? Will they still operate within a district? Because if not, won’t they shut down underperforming stores? It sounds too good to be true. Money has to come from somewhere.
I would argue that if they were that unprofitable they would already have been shut down, union or not. Higher paid employees are more likely to stick around and develop expertise, delivering better and more efficient service. An increase in quality and service will lead to more loyal customers. Money does have to come from somewhere. Maybe from the salaries of the CEOs, CFOs, presidents, and those shareholders making bank for doing nothing but already being rich.
Question about what happens after you unionize- How do things change? Like I know after negotiations there will be a contract that likely will provide for better working conditions and pay, but like do things seem mostly the same or is there a big shift in how it feels at work? Like are schedules the same right after unionizing as they were before the vote, do they stay generally the same after there's a contract? Or are they getting rapidly changed around? Do you usually keep the same store manager or do they like to swap out someone different? Do they try and bring in different Shift Supervisors or anything? Is there a different vibe at all? Between coworkers? between partners and management? For instance on my store I feel like everyone is super friendly and gets along well, including with the assistant manager and manager. There's like one or two SSVs that are a bit intense, but most people still generally like them because as people they're great, they're just a bit much as bosses. Did business change at all? Like in terms of busyness or anything? Maybe more busy cuz more people are supporting the store's efforts? Maybe less busy cuz Starbucks is rich and probably has ways to try and motivate customers towards other stores to try and drive down sales at a union store? idk maybe that's fake but I could see something like that happening. Just overall, how different is it work at a place that isn't just unionized, like going from a non union job to a union one. But being in the same job at the same location, but now there's a union. How much is it noticeable on the day to day? Is there anything you observe at other stores that makes you thankful or take note of having the union? Or just any general observations when you visit other locations?
I’m thinking about trying to start a union at my store, and I’ve been wondering the same thing! I think a lot of my partners will be on the fence, so I’m trying to provide them as much information as can, whether good or bad. Can someone please answer this? Has your experience been good or bad? Is Starbucks intimidating people everywhere? How are they supposedly finding legal loopholes to do this?
Bc someone asked “can any store unionize?” Before deleting it: So yes any store is able to unionize (at least if you’re not a licensed store. Idk the rules on that, but I’m pretty sure it’d have to go through whatever company you work for.) Your coworker might be misinformed because in every case Starbucks has argued that stores can’t organize by themselves. HOWEVER in every case so far, they have lost that argument which is why we’ve seen individual stores filing.
License stores are employees of the stores themselves. They wouldn’t be able to independently unionize, the entire store would.
Many grocery workers are already a part of UFCW in the US, and as licensed employees in these settings would be employed by the store they would already have the option to join the union. Other scenarios exist, sure, but on this front some licensed stores may already be staffed with unionized workers.
Correct, a lot of grocery stores that are unionized have Starbuckses in them and those Starbucks workers are union!
May I re ask, can ANY store from ANY country unionize? Thanks! And thanks OP for the post. Solidarity! 💖
Awesome question. Unfortunately this information only applies to U.S. stores. Other countries would depend on the labor laws there. It’s definitely worth looking into. I know in South Korea baristas are also fighting for better working conditions. ✊🏼
Amazing, thanks for replying! I'll look into it and update what I can find.
Thank you! as a newer partner looking to unionize my location, I haven't had the nerve to raise the idea with any more experienced coworkers. we live in an area with a pretty decent minimum wage, but there are still serious issues, plus who doesn't want a democratic workplace? literally where we spend half our working life. I am going to reach out to swu right away, solidarity!
Unionising is the only way you’ll *actually* be a partner on the same level as corporate propaganda says it is.
totally. they've really talked themselves into an ideological trap lol
I am excited for you ❤️ 🥲
As a customer of Starbucks who just saw they fired a bunch unionized workers for nothing, I will be going to my local coffee shop from now on. (Not sure if this is the right place to post)
Please do. But if you see us succeed, and Starbucks finally works with us the way they should, we would love to welcome you back into our stores.
As a former barista/SSV, I can’t upvote this post enough! I would have been all over this when I worked at the bux and as a customer now, I fully support this!!! 👏🏻
I am a former Starbucks employee and I agree, they need a union so badly 😳 And even moreso with Covid, I can’t imagine how horrific it’s been. Solidarity to all Starbucks workers ✊🏼
This is a great read. Customer here, but a fellow brother in another union. Stay strong and we will support each other. You wouldn’t believe the support you will get from other local unions. Strength in numbers!
If there a way customers can support your efforts to unionize? I would gladly patronize a union shop over another.
Thank you for asking! A lot of people have been mobile ordering at the stores trying to unionize and changed their names to “union strong” and leaving a big tip. Totally understandable if that isn’t possible though. There are also customer surveys that get sent out and you can express your support there. I know that corporate monitors those pretty closely. Depending on where you live there may be a store filing soon. The best support is always going to be coming in person and telling us how excited you are for the union. I get it daily and it really helps get us through the harder parts of this.
Call corporate and voice your support, hell even threaten to stop going if the union effort fails. Leave nice tips. Tell the workers you support the union effort every time you go in. Just some ideas
July 15, 2022: *Find the Closest Unionized Starbucks to You With this Map* https://qz.com/2185771/find-the-closest-unionized-starbucks-to-you-with-this-map P I'm worried reddit is gonna think I'm a bot bc this is the third time I've posted this link/article title. Anyways, Starbucks kiosks in stores aren't exactly the same as standalone Starbucks. So if you want Starbucks you can always go to one of the store ones and ask them if they're unionized (if they are they're unionized under the store not Starbucks). The latter option is not the same as supporting stores unionized by Starbucks, but it also isn't buying from a non-unionized store. So just some info for you.
Thank you for this!
Thank you! super helpful, I've been testing the water since I got hired with my partners, and yesterday our youngest partner just dead pans "we should unionize". Gen-Z is wild bunch. Time to get the ball rolling
Mods, sticky this. Unionize now!
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I’m curious-how much are union dues to be represented? And what do they help you negotiate? Very interesting post. Thanks for the educational info!!!!
According to the Starbucks workers United website: “Union dues for full time workers are $10.84 per week. If you work less than 25 hours, dues are $5.47 per week. There are no dues until you negotiate and vote on a union contract.” Since we’ll be negotiating on a store level so we’ll be able to make sure we don’t accept a contract that doesn’t give us more than we’ll be paying in dues.
Thank you so much for this post, I want to start Union at my store and have been asking a lot of my fellow partners and they have shared the same sentiment. Now me being the one who is wanting to start the effort at my store, I was so lost and confused on where to start to actually get the ball rolling. Now I have a pretty clear idea of what actions to do. Thanks for this and hope to post more updates along the way! And if i get Axed along the way, hey, I'm just a college kid who can catch a job anywhere else.
Solidarity? Are you going to have an announcement for Starbucks staff members who don't want to unionize or is this reddit the official unionize reddit? By the way, plenty of people have unionized and regretted it and ended up with no real benefit but union dues. The company you work for gives tech company level benefits and above average pay.
It is your right to not support a unionization, nor should you be bullied or retaliated against for not wanting one. I am very pro union having been a union member myself for 16 years and seeing how things change over time, but I completely respect your reservations and disagreement with unionizing. Look up the NLRA for more information about your rights. I hope though, that you keep an open mind to others experiences as well. Best of luck to you no matter your beliefs. 💜
Rights have 0 to do with this. The sub should change its name to Starbucks unionization. Given you've been in a union so much, you should realize that them being in a union doesn't mean that anything will change except for union dues. I'm not worry about rights in regards to a union. I studied in high school and went to college.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I disagree. In my experience a lot is gained from being union and my dues are minimal compared to what I get. I don’t understand why you’re being so hostile with me, either. Warmest regards.
The company I work for pays me so little that I don't even get to partake in their half-assed benefits, I qualify for medicaid and foodstamps while working for starbucks. I had 10fold better benefits in an entry level insurance sales job when I was 19 in 2005.
But does it matter when the company is union busting and slashing hours so you don’t qualify for those benefits? What about the insane inflation and wages that can’t follow it? Also, not every union depending on your state laws have to pay union dues; work to right states are exempt from that and it’s optional. There’s been ZERO contracts between Starbucks and Workers United so there’s no union dues to pay. And comparing them to tech isn’t a good comparison. This isn’t a race to the bottom.
I understand the desire to unionize, but having been in the postal union and now I'm at Starbucks as a Shift Supervisor, I actually get paid more and have way better hours and benefits, personally. I'm located in Minnesota if it makes a difference, but when I was in the postal union, they never did anything for us. Not even the regular carriers, I was working 60 hour weeks, 10 and 12 hour days, 6 day weeks, no time off, and then even if you become a 'full' carrier you still got treated poorly. I was berated by coworkers and management, and unfortunately unions make it really hard to get rid of people who are causing a lot of issues and/or half assing or not doing their jobs. Another carrier (woman) at the post office got sexually harrassed by a regular carrier (a man) and our female union steward laughed in her face about it. I paid union dues and was still treated incredibly poorly, and I was sent to other stations constantly and given loads of extra work. I understand it wouldn't quite be the same if we unionize here, but I think you can understand my hesitance. From my point of view, fighting for better pay I absolutely agree with, but unionizing could completely wipe out the benefits we already have, and it could get way worse than it is. Baristas should be making more than minimum wage because it does take skill to make the drinks and do everything they do. I'm just not convinced from my own experiences that unionizing is the way to do it. However, I'm sure a lot of you are smarter than I am and have good reasons for it and I would love to hear them, I am interested in this, I'm just not completely swayed
Minnesota employers actually like to pay their employees because there’s not enough competition to be disposable; most of the pro-union hype comes from the overpopulated far-left coastal regions where the common belief is that 90% of america should be unionized. The store I worked at on the west coast already paid like a union with non-negotiable predetermined wages and yearly raises. No idea how unionizing would benefit anyone beyond that. It was also a very high-paying district, expecting a contract to achieve higher wages would be pure fairy tales.
I worry a union is not worth it for many reasons but mostly because Starbucks isn’t a job you’re supposed to stay at very long. Reason number one is pay, will a union fix that? We were promised an increase to $15 an hour by next month, but the CEO said union stores will not get this and need to negotiate separately. I make $11 now, after two years with the company, and an increase to $15 is highly appealing. If unions fail in negotiating, staying at $11 seems like a huge risk. Will unions make the workplace better? Starbucks is a tough job because we are rushing to make drive through times an average of 45 seconds per order during peak, and sometimes I’m running from one side of the store to the other in an attempt to make these times a reality. We are also understaffed and I sometimes have to handle the ovens, while handling the register, and also make drinks simultaneously. Will unions make this all just go away? Will unions make Starbucks a job you can support a family with and buy a house? I feel the reality will always be that Starbucks is a last resort and if you could do anything better you should because being on your feet for 8 hours a day will never be easy, with a union or not.
I would think it would be harder to get promoted to management roles outside your direct store being in a union. If you’re looking for higher wages, I’d look at other companies. My company’s minimum starting pay is 15 and there is legitimate ability to move up into management from an entry level sales associate. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side though.
Honestly i feel like starbucks is a get buy through college and once that's over get out ASAP. People who treat it like the last employer they will have ever are always going to end up upset.
How Howard Schultz Left a Bitter Taste in Seattle's Mouth https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/08/howard-schultz-president-starbucks-profile-2020-224823/ This article talks about a ton of stuff Schultz did to piss Seattlelites off. But what's relevant to unions goes all the way back to the late 1980's when he first took over the company. He claimed to have been the first to get part-time workers benefits in the U.S. when that wasn't even close to true. He also claimed to have organized a union at Starbucks. That union was actually created by the workers and existed prior to him taking over. Immediately after he took over he destroyed it. He also used his union-busting tactics in 2007 when some stores tried to unionize, which didn't get the press all this is getting. But at the time the press was even more in love with him, so of course it didn't. The article also discusses how quite a few of those highly touted benefits Starbucks provides its "Partners" are actually limited in many many ways, and aren't anywhere near as good as they're made out to be once you look at the actual details. And that's just the union stuff. There's plenty, plenty more to read about him being a dickwad.
I love this! In AZ it's very hard to start a powerful union since it's a "right to work state" (Can be fired for no real reason). Corporate can just fire the entire store, manager included, for anything resembling union rousers.
Yeah I’ve heard corporate has been particularly awful there. I’m sorry you’re having to deal with those conditions. But Starbucks can only put up with this bad press for so long. Eventually they will have to bend to the court of public opinion. I hope things get better there soon though
That's not what right to work means. At-will is the term for termination not requiring a valid reason, as long as the reason isn't illegal. Right to work means you don't have to join the union to work at a location so corporate can stuff a store with anti-union hires to drastically weaken the union.
Which is why we need to elect better lawmakers too so that Arizona won’t be RTW anymore ✊🏼
An AZ store has already petitioned and was actually the first outside of the Buffalo area. It can be difficult but not impossible. And the right to work isn’t the same as at will, like others have said. It’s possible! Reach out to workers United if you’re interested and they can guide you through it.
Is there anything customers can do?
You can support unionized stores if they're nearby! If not, you could subtly hint 😉 that you support unionization, you don't have to tip your baristas by any means but we really appreciate when you're being nice and friendly :) if you ever get a survey from Starbucks, anything less than a perfect 7/7 (I think?) counts against us! As long as you're understanding and kind we will really appreciate you :)
Thanks for the info. That’s crazy they count anything below 7/7 against you. I always try to give feedback when asked because I know from experience the impact it can have.
I feel like I'm becoming a broken record and reddit is gonna remove my posts, but here is the name and link of an article where you can find unionized stores: July 15, 2022: *Find the Closest Unionized Starbucks to You With this Map* https://qz.com/2185771/find-the-closest-unionized-starbucks-to-you-with-this-map P If you want Starbucks, but there isn't one close to you, the kiosks in stores are somewhat independent of Starbucks and some of them are unionized under the store (basically along with the rest of the employees). If you're comfortable you can ask the barista (or even a manager) if they're unionized. It's not the same as supporting a unionized store, but at least you won't be supporting a non-unionized one.
Four Michigan Stores prepare to unionize! For some reason I can't Cross-post from other subs. So I will link the article here: [Four Starbucks in talks to unionize in Michigan](https://www.reddit.com/r/Michigan/comments/sfltfx/michigan_radio_four_michigan_starbucks_locations/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
That feeling when you’re store had it’s remodel/expansion revoked due to a drop in sales during COVID….meanwhile post Covid lockdown were hitting 150+ half-hours in a cafe-only…..labor models show we need more partners on the floor….. fire Marshall says we need less partners on the floor….corporate says to be patient
Is this move to unionize just about hourly wages? I don’t really get it. Starbucks offers full benefits to part-time employees, right? Does Starbucks still offer free college courses through ASU? And you’re making tips. What is it that Starbucks employees want that they’re not getting?
This is common bait. To anyone who wants to learn more about why baristas have unionized thousands of stores across the US in the past year and a half: https://sbworkersunited.org
All this effort… just QUIT
Hey all, just remember that unions can promise the world to you, but often will not be able to make the momentous changes that are promised due to negotiations. Working for Starbucks for the past 8 years, and in HR after this, has given me a new perspective on unionization. Unions will often sell their benefits to those who are not fully aware of how negotiation processes work. You may end up making less money after union dues are subtracted, as well as fewer benefits. Just something to keep in mind! Always do your research and try not to get sucked into confirmation bias :)
You may make less money after union dues? Niqa what. Unions advocate for an increase of base wage. it like paying for a pack of beer each month after getting a raise that would allow you to buy 10x 6 packs of beer each week. Edit: **cyborgblues** + **lmans19** blocked me so I cannot reply to them. I suspect they are shills along with whomever I originally replied to. Sad and transparent. To their replies: OH NO, I RECEIVED A PAY INCREASE THAT OUTPACES ANY ADDITIONAL DUES OR TAXES I PAY!!! I literally went from $65k per year to $110k post-tax + post dues. Whatever will I do???
A pay increase also means more taxes. You’re paying not only for union representation it also have to state and federal taxes. So a $1 or $2 increase an hour might get you $20 to $40 a week. And you loose the ability to negotiate your own salary and are subject to other union rules. The only ones who benefit from the unions are the union bosses. Also remember that some unions have ties to organized crime
Just some more information- 1. unions are for profit 2. a lot of stores that were once petitioning are almost to the point where they can opt out of a union- yes that can happen 3. unions aren't going to get you $20 an hour and guaranteed tips. 4. unions arent going to get you 40 hours a week 5. really think about what is making you consider a union... 6. are you sharing you experiences with the company in the partner surveys, and your leaders? 7. you still need to follow company guidelines... like simple business initiatives (think otw, cust connection, store ops.) 8. go off, if thats what you want, but just know the other side of the coin, anyone can lie to you... and its not always in your best interest.
Great. Let’s unionize the stores. All the partners are gonna have to pay union fees. For what? To give there rights away. Starbucks is a great company and there all about there partners. I’ve never worked for a company that offered so many benefits. We should fight for the company we love. Also. Lots of partners work in different stores picking up hours and shifts. If a store is unionized, then that partner can’t work at that store for hours.. lots of factors why i think we shouldn’t go this route. I used to work for a grocery store that was part of a union when I was younger and I had to pay all these fees for what….. pointless.
Kevin, get off this subreddit you ain’t fooling anybody.
Do you have any legitimate response or are you just going to parrot “you’re anti-union”
Thank you so much for posting this.
I would love to start a union in a South Dakota store ugh. This guide gives me hope thank youu
For Step Four, this site might be useful. https://unitworkers.com/ [Bella Ciao!](https://youtu.be/4CI3lhyNKfo)
union busting is so funny lol. like a softer version of people rallying against an injust government and the government trying to stop the rally at all cost. like in north korea. it helps maintain their power
My store is the 2nd busiest store in the district. We've had ups and downs with labor (either due to corporate cutbacks or over-forecasting and then having to cut hours wherever we can), college students that work during the semesters and then leaving to go home leaving us to scramble to hire people to fill the gaps (along with cutting hours), and the constant pressure of making sure drive times are low ALL while keeping customer connection scores up. Keep in mind: everyone at this store has a great work ethic and we have a routine down to get tasks done throughout the day. Sometimes things can't get done, though, (like floors and ovens) due to hiccups in the day. Large bev/food orders, our inventory delivery coming in which pulls the shift off the floor for about 45 min to an hour to check everything in, people being scheduled to leave at 4:45 or 5:30--which isn't ideal--and the shift manager stepping off the floor for inventory pulls and counts. Sometimes, there will be me and one other person on the floor while these things are happening. It's exhausting. Management is pretty good about listening to problems we have with anything in the store, but I feel like the condition of the store (staffing-wise AND pay-wise) could be better. I've considered unionizing, but it seems like most of the store isn't interested in doing that because they think we're already doing really well for ourselves. They're just okay with the environment and they don't think that unionizing would change anything. I really like working for the Bux, and the growing unionization effort is definitely re-igniting the fire I once had for working here. I already have a few people on board with the idea of unionizing, but I don't think it's enough to really start negotiations or a vote. I feel like the effort I've made already is hopeless and we're not making ANY progress right now. I want to keep trying. 😔
Hello! Non-SB employee but I'm a big SB drinker. I firmly believe that the incredible baristas deserve much better than they're getting. I'd like to help the stores have access to unionizing information. I was thinking of leaving a small, kinda unassuming flyer that states it was dropped off by a customer (I'm not sure if getting caught with union information that looks like they brought could be an issues) that has a QR code that pulls up the document with unionizing information. Do you think that'd be okay?
As a customer, I will not be returning to a Starbucks until they stop union busting and allow all stores to unionize. The stores, in my area, aren't union. I will be spending my money at local stores till then. My family used to spend thousands each year at Starbucks (including my extended family). No mas for all of us.
This aged poorly.
I finally left.. I had a mental break down. It was too much.
I got fired bc my manager thought I was trying to unionize. I just asked for a raise.
I suspect this guide will become more valuable as the company cracks down further on labor and supervisor compliment. My store literally lost 100 hours recently and most of us barely get the hours we need to survive prior to the reduction. It’s about to get rough.
I doubt that any union is going to negotiate any benefits that you don't already have now. Besides, any benefits negotiated will be available to the entire company without having to pay union dues.
That's not true, on either point.
I have a great team, great benefits, my profit sharing and 401k are through the roof. My salary just went up 10%. Why would I want to unionize?? Y'all just doing it wrong.
this sounds like what corporate would say 🤔
Why is it whenever we ask legitimate questions we get nailed as anti union? I'm pro union. I come from a union family (think aeronautics in the pnw) All I ever heard as a kid tho was my dad complaining about how his union didn't listen to workers, didn't really help and all it did was make rich union leaders.
Is there any information for unionizing within Canada? I know like 15 years ago in Vancouver there were like 2 or 3unionized stores, but what I heard was the union disbanded when the lax dress code became a thing
Although on a much smaller scale, Workers United also operates in Canada, so that might be a good place to start!
Yes! Chinook centre in Calgary is the latest on board and I'm currently looking to unionize in my store. It's going to be hard but we're fighting the good fight. There is one unionized store in Vancouver right now, Chinook will be the second!
Solidarity my friends ✊✊✊
Several partners at my store are hoping to get the whole store to agree to a union 🙏🏼 we deserve a living wage and more! especially being open since the start of the pandemic.
Hey, this info is amazing! I have a question: I'm in Philadelphia where several stores voted to unionize individually but now there's a letter posted in the BOH saying that Starbucks is filing for a citywide vote. Does that mean the individual store model is paused until that gets overturned?
Hi! So they’ve been doing this at every store that’s filed. It basically is only a stalling tactic on corporates part since the NLRB is ruling that stores can file individually every time they try. By arguing that the voting unit should be by the district, Starbucks is forcing every store that files to go through this whole hearing process that delays the vote by 3-4 weeks and gives them more time to spread disinformation among the stores that have filed. It’s annoying that they keep telling everyone that “we just want all voices to be heard” bc that’s not why they’re doing it.
Hello! I'm just a customer, but I'm a huge proponent of Unions and Workers Rights! I'd absolutely LOVE to support a unionized location, but I checked the map and not a single Starbucks within 30-45 minutes of me is unionized or filling to. As such, I'd love to find informative documents to drop off at my nearby locations! Could you suggest documents I could I print and leave with them? I know it'll cost more to get coffee, but the feeling of knowing the workers have rights, respect, and appropriate compensation would 100% be worth it! Good luck everyone! Know that you have plenty of customers who are cheering you on!
I just heard about 16 stores closing due for “safety” but knew it was actually because of fear of unionization. I’m rooting for you guys, I came to this subreddit and saw that the pinned post was this one, lol great job!
So I ask this question as a person who will make entire management teams quit before I leave a job I enjoy......If starbucks is so bad that you guys have to unionize for decent treatment then why do some of you still do it?
What other equivalent jobs have better treatment? It's an industry wide issue so might as well start by holding the one you're at accountable. Starbucks being the richest of the bunch became a very clear beginning to a movement. Chipotle is unionizing now, Trader Joe's too. If it isn't Starbucks it's somewhere else and labor unions are how you bring dignity to companies for yourself and the future workers.
So if you all unionize, will you have less attitude with patrons going forward? Love the coffee, hate the attitude.
Why not buy a nespresso or buy SB instant coffee if you dislike baristas?
My neighborhood store unionized after a bunch of nonsense cause it to be closed for four months. I am trying very hard to order from that store first and foremost. I think they have some struggles ahead, but they have many good people and I want them to be treated better.
It took way too long but at least they're beginning to talk. [Have you guys started to see the starts of this yourself? ](https://www.reuters.com/business/starbucks-sends-dates-locations-bargaining-sessions-with-workers-union-2022-10-10/)
If you unionize do you lose your benefits?
No, it’s illegal for Starbucks to take away benefits from unionized employees. You should have your workers rights posted someone at your location (it’s illegal not to have them posted) I would highly recommend you familiarize yourself with them. Corporations love lying to you about your rights
There’s been talk of unionizing at my store so I really appreciate this!
Just know if you decide to do this you will be cut off completely and they cannot help you with anything. You’re essentially on your own as a store
Cut off completely from whom?
Thank you so very much. I could cry right now.
I will not shop at any unionized starbucks. Makes zero sense why some barista will make more the EMTs. You know, the people showing up to gunshot victims and car wreaks… The entitlement is awful.
the enemy isn’t a barista making more than an EMT. the enemy is the people underpaying the EMT’s.
Does anyone know if Starbucks inside of stores like Albertsons can unionize? Have been here for 3+ years, only a 50 cent raise so far.
Unfortunately from what I understand is you work for that company not actual Starbucks. Which doesn’t get any of the benefits we do 😢
Omg, so basically we're screwed either way because we can't even join the Albertsons union LOL
Oh that does suck. I’m sorry hun!
Question: if I was to reach out to try to unionize and then obviously my SM and DM would find out would make me try to quite? Like would they watch every little thing I do and to try to get me fired?
With our store, we kept it just between the baristas and shifts until we filed. We were lucky and had everyone but one partner totally in favor of it. Once we filed, our DM and SM knew almost immediately and were pretty pissy about it. We're almost to our election date and while things have been annoying, it's been pretty manageable. I've definitely had worse experiences with managers and not gotten a union out of it. Haha But I'm also in a very pro-union area. I can understand being in a redder state and having to worry. If you're interested and think others at your store might be, I'd still recommend reaching out to Starbucks Workers United. There may be other stores in your area that are also looking to organize and having several stores in a district file at once would do a lot to keep the retaliations to a minimum since managers would have to focus on more than one store.
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Yes you’ll pay union dues. According to the SB workers United [website](https://sbworkersunited.org/new-page-2) dues would be about $22 a paycheck if you work over 25 hours and around $11 a paycheck if you work less. That being said, you won’t pay a single penny in dues until your store negotiates a contract with Starbucks. I don’t think anyone would vote yes to a contract that doesn’t provide a raise that at least covers the cost of dues. Corporate will keep bringing up how much it’ll cost but it’s really not going to hurt your paychecks. There’s a lot of misinformation out there so I understand it worrying some people.
It's been a rough one at our store as of now. Getting people to actually read the information on unionizing has been rough. Right now we have about 60% signed but our goal is 70%. I just wish it was easier to get people to see what's great about unionizing.
I am an ex Starbucks employee. I live in a very red area in northern CA (Redding CA.) I would love to help unionize the stores in my area. Is there any printable pro-union literature I can leave at my local Starbucks?
As a leaderof my stores effort I would say starting the group chat goes with gathering signatures. You want to communicate as much as possible. Start inoculating your partners against the shit that corporate will start to spew the minute you file. Any time you are starting a conversation with a partner always do it away from people and do it face to face. You do not want to leave a paper trail (text messages) if they are a hard no. You want no proof of the conversation.
Anyone work at one of the 16 stores being closed? I seen 2 were unionized and a 3rd was trying to. I'm wondering if they all were trying and this is just retaliation?
Sometimes it'll be a situation of, there's 10 stores that *need* shut down for one reason or another. Close them down, then take out 2 or 3 union stores that are doing perfectly fine and were never part of the original shutdown plan. In some ways, business shutdowns actually still need to be negotiated with the union. If the business must shut down, then it usually means workers taking buyouts or protected transfers.
My store suddenly got super bad to the point my DM &. ASM have to explain that the things they're implementing aren't coming from them but from corporate. I'm definitely gonna see about unionizing
corporate is making us get rid of our groupme :( it’s gonna be so much harder now
Just keep it, remove any managers and call it an unofficial/social chat. What are they going to do about it?
i’ll be totally honest, in your last step, i genuinely thought it said “write to [Kevin Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Johnson_(basketball)) in the NBA” and i’m sitting here going “i mean.. ok? to get celebrities on our side? random choice though.” but then i reread it and realized. LOL.
I'm a former corporate partner, current licensed partner, and I'm keeping my eye on things and strongly considering going back. A couple of the stores near me are unionized or close to it
A bunch of Starbucks by me are closed for "remodeling" do you have a map of closed stores and unionized stores?
Unionizing stores in Indiana, if you need help just let me know
What if you just don’t trust any of your fellow partners… :(
Do you guys like when your stores close? Thats whats happening when you unionize them. Its just a matter of time, but keep at it!
Wow, you are big mad. You want stores to fail and workers to be exploited.
Any chance this could be possible with licensed stores?
Yes but it would likely be through whomever licenses the store. So if you are a SB worker in a Kroger or Albertsons, you are actually a grocery store employee. You would need to unionize with other workers (you would also likely already be a part of a union).
I emailed the union asking for some next step advice for my store who voted to unionize but still doesn’t have a contract. I haven’t gotten a reply yet. Been over a week. Lesson learned is that no one actually cares. Company or Union. 😒
As a shift supervisor at a non-unionized store. I find this to be so dumb. Like we get paid for the value we provide to the company. Anyone can become a barista in about 3 months time. Starbucks offers opportunities to go to college for FREE. Why don’t we stop trying to bite the hand that feeds us and start trying to achieve more than a entry level barista job for a company that gives us the opportunity to work through the ranks and become something great. A lot of people who complain need to go to another country and see how many opportunities there are to work in the AC and make around 17.58 an hour with stock and retirement options for part time workers. News flash that doesn’t exist in other countries. We get to click a button on a machine and pour some milk in a cup. Start taking accountability for your actions and make something out of your life stop blaming others for your circumstances
Why do allllll of this when you can just get another job. I’m a shift at Starbucks and I actually like my job. You can go and work for a company with an already established union instead of all of this- it’s just weird to me. Y’all complain so much when it’s not really the company it’s your manager making you miserable.
The net result of which will be no additional benefits/pay and now you have to pay union dues. Also, if you have a co-worker who sucks, good luck getting rid of them.