As Starbucks faces mounting pressure to fix its growing issues, Starbucks Workers United baristas at 125 stores across the country are demanding the coffee giant make good on its promise to finalize a fair union contract with the 12,000 union workers that have been organized in the stores.
‘Negotiate a fair contract now’ was the message echoed across stores in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Utah and even Downtown Disney, as baristas took their concerns straight to management, reading a letter aloud to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol demanding that the company prioritize fair contracts with the staffing, hours, take-home pay and worker protections. Support for the union baristas is widespread, as Inside the Magic reports, “Many cast members and other Downtown Disney employees are quietly supporting the movement, even if they’re not joining in.”
Pennsylvania Starbucks Workers United baristas escalated those demands on Thursday July 17th as they walked off the job and went on strike in Philadelphia and Lancaster to protest the company’s failure to resolve outstanding unfair labor practice (ULP) charges for union busting. The workers, cheered on by customers and supporters.
“My coworkers shouldn’t have to worry about losing their benefits because they’re repeatedly scheduled under 20 hours with open availability,” said Sebastian Maris, a Philadelphia barista who went on strike Thursday. “We deserve a living wage, and we will fight and we will march until this company returns to the table with real proposals and bargains with us workers in good faith.”
Nationwide, Starbucks Workers United baristas sent a clear message to Niccol that his “Back to Starbucks” effort will fail unless the baristas who keep its stores receive a fair contract.
