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Starbucks workers form nearly 500 unions in US

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Starbucks employee unions in the U.S. have seen significant growth in recent months. According to Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), there are now nearly 500 unions representing over 10,500 members across 45 states and districts. Starbucks is a well-known coffee chain.

The first Starbucks union in the U.S. was established on December 9, 2021, in Buffalo, New York. This victory was hailed as a “major event in the history of the U.S. labor movement,” particularly because Starbucks employed aggressive tactics to thwart the unionization efforts after baristas expressed their desire to organize.

As of now, there are approximately 381,000 Starbucks employees across the U.S. and globally. The company operates around 38,587 locations worldwide, with over 16,000 of those in the US alone.

SBWU is actively pursuing its campaign to establish unions in U.S. Starbucks locations while advocating for the rights of employees.

From September 20-22, SBWU launched its regular “Red for Bread” mass action, featuring informal pickets and leafletting to educate customers and passersby about the significance of unionization. This initiative marks the third month of coordinated mass actions involving hundreds of employees.

The union is currently engaged in negotiations with Starbucks management to secure employee rights, including demands for increased wages, enhanced benefits, and improved work scheduling. These discussions began on April 24, following years of delays and refusals from Starbucks to address the concerns raised by the SBWU.

AB: Starbucks workers form nearly 500 unions in US