Starbucks and other retailers brace as unionization efforts gather steam
A nationwide effort among retail employees to unionize may be coming to a Starbucks near you.
Last August, two stores in Buffalo, New York, became the first Starbucks Corp coffee shops to file a petition for union elections. As of Feb. 4, 64 stores across 19 states, including three in Seattle, had filed for elections, and the two Buffalo locations became the first to successfully approve union representation.
From the beginning, Starbucks leadership has opposed unionization, saying it would add an unnecessary barrier to baristas. Executives have also pointed to increases in wages and benefits for workers, including a pledge to raise the average hourly wage to $17 by this summer.
The movement could signal a recharged enthusiasm among workers to organize, across a number of industries, including retail. It could also evaporate in a matter of months.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/02/07/unionization-effort-at-starbucks-gains-momentum.html