{"id":3263,"date":"2022-04-20T16:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T21:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/?p=3263"},"modified":"2022-04-20T16:56:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T21:56:48","slug":"starbucks-baristas-turn-to-unions-for-more-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/2022\/04\/20\/starbucks-baristas-turn-to-unions-for-more-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Starbucks Baristas Turn To Unions For More Support"},"content":{"rendered":"

Across the United States, more Starbucks locations are turning to unions in hopes to find more support for their employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What started as a small effort by two Starbucks locations in Buffalo, New York, has spread across the country. <\/span>These stores cited nearly 20 unfair labor practices that had been going on in their location. <\/span>After a vote held this December,<\/span><\/a> the number of Starbucks stores with a union, increased to six, with more locations getting voted on in the coming months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since Buffalo\u2019s successful attempt at independence, several other Starbucks locations have followed suit with over <\/span>105 locations across 26 states<\/span><\/a> filing petitions to<\/span> the National Labor Relations Board for their union elections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A labor union, as defined by <\/span>UnionPlus<\/span><\/a>, is \u201c<\/span>an organized group of workers who unite to make decisions about conditions affecting their work\u201d. The purpose of these unions is to take the power away from corporate and give it to the workers who devote their livelihood to the Starbucks brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

But why are Starbucks employees turning to unions? According to baristas, one reason is poor management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur employee turnaround has been awful,\u201d Barista Devin Rossi said, \u201cSince I started last May, there are only one or two people who have stayed. We\u2019ve had managers come and go, some for a few months, others filling in temporarily for a few weeks. I don\u2019t think forming a union is always the answer, but at this point, corporate has to know that there\u2019s an issue and they should work on solving it instead of letting their baristas flounder.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another reason baristas have been forming unions is because of low pay. <\/span>Although the minimum wage has seen an increase in recent years, many baristas are feeling that it is not enough for the amount of work they do to meet the expectations of management. In Illinois, the starting wage at Starbucks is $12 per hour, whereas some union locations have been able to secure a <\/span>$25 minimum wage<\/span><\/a> for employees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Baristas are also seeking more medical support from Starbucks Corporate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI quit last summer due to health-related reasons,\u201d said former barista Rachel Townsend, \u201cThere were times when I needed to work long hours while understaffed. Management didn\u2019t know how to accommodate me fast enough so I made the decision to quit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After years of dwindling statistics, union popularity is on the rise. With <\/span>68% of people being in support<\/span><\/a> of them. Amazon employees have also begun petitioning in recent months as they feel their work environment is unsafe and their work conditions are unfair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the process of forming a union is easier than ever. Any location wondering about their options can meet with a union organizer, look through handbooks, and campaign for their stores.<\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, some Starbucks workers do not feel a desire to unionize, feeling that there is no need for the hassle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI understand why some locations feel the need to take these steps, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary,\u201d One barista said, \u201cIf you think the work is hard, quit. I know people who have worked here for 10 plus years and they love the work they do. Just figure out a job that\u2019s best for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A handful of employees from one Starbucks location, which chose to stay anonymous (until they decide on their next step), were surveyed about their desire to form a union. While some were undecided, several baristas expressed a desire to look into their options and start the process.<\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many Starbucks locations are taking a close look at the stores that have taken the union route. Some employees see other stores\u2019 efforts as inspiration, reminding other baristas how they deserve to be treated and what they are capable of.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPart of it is just seeing what our options are,\u201d Sarah said, \u201cSometimes it can feel like something bigger than us, but when you hear other locations\u2019 stories and see that it isn\u2019t impossible. It gives you the push to do the right thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Across the United States, more Starbucks locations are turning to unions in hopes to find more support for their employees.\u00a0 What started as a small effort by two Starbucks locations in Buffalo, New York, has spread across the country. These stores cited nearly 20 unfair labor practices that had been going on in their location. After a vote held this December, the number of Starbucks stores with a union, increased to six, with more locations getting voted on in the coming months. Since Buffalo\u2019s successful attempt at independence, several other Starbucks locations have followed suit with over 105 locations across 26 states filing petitions to the National Labor Relations Board for their union elections.\u00a0 A labor union, as defined by UnionPlus, is \u201can organized group of workers who unite to make decisions about conditions affecting their work\u201d. The purpose of these unions is to take the power away from corporate and give it to the workers who devote their livelihood to the Starbucks brand. But why are Starbucks employees turning to unions? According to baristas, one reason is poor management.\u00a0 \u201cOur employee turnaround has been awful,\u201d Barista Devin Rossi said, \u201cSince I started last May, there are only one or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[249,220],"class_list":["post-3263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-bucom360","tag-com360"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/350"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3263"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3268,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3263\/revisions\/3268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/com.bradley.edu\/newslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}