It has been two years since the first unionization of company-owned Starbucks cafes in the U.S. The excitement and hope that accompanied this milestone have given way to a frustrating stalemate. Although over 360 locations have voted to unionize, representing about 4% of the company’s total U.S. footprint, no contracts have been reached with Starbucks. The labor dispute between the company and the union has become one of the most high-profile in recent years, with the baristas demanding better pay and addressing staff shortages, among other concerns.
With the intention to resolve the impasse, Starbucks has expressed its desire to resume contract talks with the union starting in January. This move opens a potential window of opportunity to break the deadlock. While labor laws do not mandate a collective bargaining agreement, they require both parties to negotiate in good faith. However, after a year, workers who lose faith in the union can petition for decertification, putting pressure on negotiations. So far, 19 locations have filed petitions, although seven have been dismissed based on Starbucks’ violation of federal labor laws.
Negotiations between Starbucks and the union, known as Starbucks Workers United, have been fraught with tension and accusations of bad faith bargaining. Starbucks has insisted on face-to-face negotiations, refusing to conduct them via Zoom. The union sees this as a stalling tactic and an excuse to delay progress. The lack of trust and communication between the two parties has hindered the possibility of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
Recognizing the need to move forward, Starbucks’ Chief Partner Officer, Sara Kelly, penned a letter to the International President of Workers United, Lynne Fox. Kelly acknowledged the current impasse, emphasizing that it is detrimental to the company, the union, and most importantly, the partners (employees). She expressed the desire to restart bargaining and outlined several conditions, including the exclusion of audio or video recording or feeds during negotiations.
The letter has reached its intended recipient, and Workers United is currently reviewing its contents. While their response remains pending, the union has clarified that they have never declined a meeting with Starbucks. Any initiative that aims to facilitate progress and positive outcomes is welcome, according to Fox’s statement to CNBC.
In November, Starbucks workers organized their largest-ever labor action, staging a walkout at over 200 stores on Red Cup Day, one of the busiest days of the year for the chain. The strike did result in one significant change that the baristas had requested: the ability to turn off mobile orders on busy promotion days. However, Starbucks has stated that this adjustment to its mobile ordering system had already been in progress before the demonstration took place.
As Starbucks seeks to reestablish contract talks with the union representing its baristas, the hope for a resolution to this labor dispute lingers. The desire to improve pay and address staffing concerns persists among the employees, while Starbucks aims to move past the impasse and resume negotiations in good faith. Only time will tell if this new attempt at dialogue will lead to a breakthrough or if the stalemate will continue.
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