Starbucks wants to establish
and maintain a better work environment for its workers
Wokers at three buffalo area starbucks shops filed petitions with the National Labor Relations
Board for vote on unionization.
Starbucks is promising to "directly"
address employee concerns after workers at three Buffalo area shops filed
petitions with the National Labor Relations Board asking
for a vote on union representation. Currently, Starbucks has more than 8,000
locations in the U.S., none of which are unionized.
A Starbucks spokesperson said the company creates the "space
and forums for open and honest conversation as it relates to establishing and
maintaining a great work environment."
Organizers at the Buffalo-area stores say far more workers have
signed union cards than the 30% required to qualify for a vote. If successful,
the effort by workers in the Buffalo area would only apply to those stores.
“Its success is built on its longstanding effort to directly
engage and support its over 400,000 employees around the world and that it will
"continue to empower our partners to constructively use their voice,"
the spokesperson added.
According to Starbucks’ past workers’ relation experience it
offers a "full suite of benefits" for both full and even part-time
workers. As part of its benefits package, it
offers paid time off, a "competitive 401(k) retirement plan" and
stock incentives, health coverage and parental leave. The company also covers
college tuition for eligible employees through Arizona State University’s
online degree programs.
Gary Bonadonna of Workers United accused Starbucks of
union-busting tactics, like recently sending executives and managers into
Buffalo stores to speak with employees. In June, a judge with the National
Labor Relations Board ruled the company unlawfully fired two workers in
Philadelphia for trying to organize.
“You're not practicing what you preach,” Bonadonna said of
Starbucks. “You're supposed to be so progressive.”
Starbucks Corporation is a multinational chain of coffee shops
with massive roasting capacity headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As the
world's largest coffee chain, Starbucks is seen to be the major representation
of the United States' second wave of coffee culture. As of September 2020, the
company had 32,660 stores in 83 countries, including 16,637 company operated
stores and 16,023 licensed stores. Of these 32,660 stores, 18,354 were in the
United States, Canada, and Latin America. Starbucks locations serve hot and
cold drinks, whole-bean coffee, micro-ground instant coffee, espresso, caffe latte,
full and loose-leaf teas, juices, Frappuccino beverages, pastries, and snacks.
Some offerings are seasonal or specific to the locality of the store. Depending
on the country, most locations offer free Wi-Fi.