Starbucks and Workers’ Union Reach Agreement to Resume Collective Bargaining Discussions
In a surprising turn of events, Starbucks and Workers United, the union organizing the company’s U.S. workers, have announced their decision to begin discussions on a “foundational framework” to achieve collective bargaining agreements. This development marks a significant step forward in a contentious battle that has seen both sides accusing each other of improper and unlawful conduct.
In a statement released on February 27th, Starbucks expressed its commitment to establishing a positive relationship with Workers United and emphasized their shared dedication to the interests of Starbucks partners. The coffee giant acknowledged that during talks concerning ongoing brand and intellectual property litigation, a productive path emerged for future nationwide labor campaigns initiated in 2021. As part of the agreement, both parties have committed to initiating discussions on a framework aimed at achieving collective bargaining agreements that include a fair process for organizing and resolving outstanding litigation.
In an act of good faith, Starbucks has agreed to provide workers at unionized stores with benefits initially announced in May 2022. This includes the ability for workers to receive customer tips from credit card transactions. Workers United echoed these sentiments in a separate statement posted on X.
Sara Kelly, chief partner officer at Starbucks, expressed the company’s commitment to delivering its “partner promise” and “restitching the fabric of the green apron for all partners at Starbucks.” While acknowledging that there is still much work to be done, Kelly stated that this agreement represents an important and positive step towards building a constructive relationship with Workers United in the best interests of the company’s partners.
This latest announcement is indeed a remarkable turn of events in a fierce battle that has witnessed allegations of improper conduct from both Starbucks and Workers United. In December of last year, Starbucks sent a letter to Workers United expressing its desire to resume bargaining talks with the goal of reaching agreements within reasonable time frames. The company proposed that bargaining resume with a set of representative stores in January 2024, while also remaining open to alternative ideas and rules of engagement for the negotiation process.
Workers United has filed numerous complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Starbucks of illegal labor practices. These complaints include allegations of threatening and firing union supporters, as well as closing stores to impede unionizing efforts. The labor board and several federal courts have ruled in favor of Workers United, finding that Starbucks violated U.S. labor law. In response, Starbucks has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the union of trademark infringement for utilizing the company’s circular green logo as the basis for its own branding. Additionally, Starbucks claimed that Workers United encouraged workers to violate company policies.
This article includes information from Reuters.
