News
Contract · Labor · Starbucks · Union
Starbucks Workers United, representing baristas, has proposed new contract terms and is actively engaging with Starbucks to resume bargaining.
The union's key demands include a minimum starting wage of $17 per hour, coupled with 4% annual raises. Additionally, they seek operational changes such as a minimum of three workers per store at all times, a formal grievance process, non-discrimination clauses, and a just-cause provision for employment termination.
A significant point of contention remains the resolution of outstanding unfair labor practice charges, including backpay for allegedly unjustly fired baristas and withheld raises or credit-card tips. This development follows the union's rejection of Starbucks' previous contract offer last April, which lacked initial wage and benefit increases, and a subsequent strike in November that coincided with the company's Red Cup Day promotion.
The union currently represents 9,500 employees across 550 of Starbucks' approximately 17,000 domestic cafes, indicating a substantial, though not company-wide, impact. The ongoing conversations signal a potential path towards resolving a protracted labor dispute, which could have implications for Starbucks' operational stability and labor costs.
