Workers at San Luis Obispo Starbucks Vote to Unionize Joining Nationwide Labor Movement
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Baristas at the Starbucks on Madonna Road voted seven to two to join a union and collectively bargain for a labor contract.
The San Luis Obispo location is the 66th Starbucks location to unionize in California and joins over 700 locations nationwide shared Starbucks Workers United, the labor group representing over 12,000 workers at the international coffee chain and part of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) affiliate Workers United.
"Partners at our store have worked countless days without proper staffing, have received extremely poor onboarding, and heard many broken promises about a change for the better coming soon," expalined Jacob Weisgerber, a shift supervisor at the Madonna Road Starbucks for the past three years. "It became quite clear to many of the baristas at our store that this situation would not change for the better organically, and that we would have to seize that moment ourselves."
According to Starbucks Workers United, 82 percent of elections have been in favor of collectively bargaining for a contract since a nationwide campaign began in late 2021.
Last year alone, more than 2,000 workers at locations in 45 states and Washington D.C. have joined the labor organization which has secured over 30 tentative agreements with Starbucks detailed Starbucks Workers United in an announcement about the latest union approval in San Luis Obispo.
"Our leap to go through with this process was due to a near certainty that Starbucks will always choose profits over partners. We believe that everyone in the workplace deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion," Weisgerber added. "In joining the union, we join thousands of other voices that refuse to accept these conditions as the new norm. We know what this company can become, and we’re going to fight to get it there."
The organization shared that worker's demands for a future contract include better hours, higher take-home pay, and a resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practices allegations at the federal level.
Your News Channel reached out to Starbucks for more information about the local approval and the following statement from a spokesperson was provided:
Starbucks has continued to bargain in good faith, putting forward comprehensive proposals that build on our competitive pay and industry-leading benefits, which average more than $30 an hour for eligible hourly partners. Throughout negotiations, we have remained focused on reaching agreements that support partners and strengthen the Starbucks experience.
Starbucks offers one of the best jobs in retail, with more than one million people applying each year. We continue to invest in our partners through industry-leading pay and benefits, while expanding opportunities to share in the success of our coffeehouses providing performance-based bonuses of up to $1,200, expanded tipping options, and weekly pay.
These updates were implemented at non-union stores and, as required by law, are subject to bargaining at the approximately 5 percent of U.S. stores represented by a union.
In November of last year, an unfair labor practice strike was conducted at Starbucks locations nationwide, the longest work stoppage in the history of the company noted the labor group.
