Starbucks Workers United says some employees of the nation’s first unionized store, right here in Buffalo, have walked off the job.
According to the group, the workers left Wednesday morning due to “unsafe working conditions.”
“They have been pressured to work by Starbucks despite understaffing and health concerns,” Starbucks Workers United wrote. “We believe everyone deserves the right to feel safe at work! Partners will return when it’s safe to do so.”
Starbucks employees at the Elmwood Village location unionized in a historic vote Thursday, becoming the first of nearly 9,000 company-owned stores in America to do so.
Starbucks sought to have the market vote en masse, but that challenge was not granted and stores were allowed to vote individually.
“Today is the start of a new era for organized labor, and it began right here in Buffalo,” said Sen. Sean Ryan. “I applaud Starbucks Workers United and the grassroots, worker-led effort to fight for better pay and workplace conditions.”
Starbucks released the following statement on the votes:
”Today we saw a split vote in two stores in Buffalo with a third vote outcome pending.
Every partner matters. It’s how we built the company. And how we will continue to run the company. We will continue to focus on the best Starbucks experience we can deliver for each other and our customers.
We are grateful for each partner who exercised their right to vote, and as we move forward, we will continue to focus on working to exceed the expectations of all our partners and our customers.
We want to protect partner flexibility and transferability across all stores in a market or a district because we know that’s important to partners, which is why we maintain our belief that every partner in a district or market should have the opportunity to vote on such an important decision .
Independent of the outcome of these elections, we respect the process, and we will continue to stay true to our Mission and Values.”
I never thought I’d see a chain / franchise successfully unionize like this. I wonder if it will set a precedent for other Starbucks / franchises out there.
I wonder what this will do for the employees at this particular Starbucks. Better pay? Better benefits? Either way, shout out to them for organizing and getting something like this done. Usually companies fire employees trying to unionize.
What would that even do?
i’m assuming better benefits and pay? not sure. will probably have union reps fight for the employees so they don’t get screwed over
i wonder if they will negotiate to be closed on weekends? i don’t know, never heard of a chain getting unionized before. this will truly set the standard on what unionization can do for franchise chain establishments
i’m assuming better benefits and pay? not sure. will probably have union reps fight for the employees so they don’t get screwed over
i wonder if they will negotiate to be closed on weekends? i don’t know, never heard of a chain getting unionized before. this will truly set the standard on what unionization can do for franchise chain establishments
But for franchises would the union even have enough power to do anything?
But for franchises would the union even have enough power to do anything?
i guess that’s what we are going to find out. this could just be a chess move for Starbucks - “Look how progressive we are”, then just block anything the union proposes and makes it impossible to come to an agreement.
who knows. we may even see this store close down for “unexpected reasons”. they do a lot of business, but they don’t have a drive through so other starbucks in the area are far more busy
i guess that’s what we are going to find out. this could just be a chess move for Starbucks - “Look how progressive we are”, then just block anything the union proposes and makes it impossible to come to an agreement.
who knows. we may even see this store close down for “unexpected reasons”. they do a lot of business, but they don’t have a drive through so other starbucks in the area are far more busy
Yea I can see that. I heard they can make $15+ with tips. They seem fine either way.
fine with all of this as long as no prices get raised
yeah that’s something to consider. as well more about that the client experience - will they start to close early/open later? no more nights + weekends? obviously those are extreme unlikely examples, but the implications are definitely something to consider
This is an amazing first step but we must remember that it is only one step in a long road for worker leverage. One union can’t do anything but when there’s a union in every Starbucks willing to get together and secure what they deserve, then there will be actual power in a union
I was following this. Starbucks management was trying to swat it as much as they could but I'm happy they pulled through
I mean good for them... I guess
Starbucks treats their employees very well anyways lol
highly recommend the book Onward to learn a bit how Starbucks
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Good.
I hope these guys get their s*** together lol
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Good.
I hope these guys get their s*** together lol
They will be in school textbooks in 20 years for their selfless effort