Newberry Starbucks Workers Initiate Union Elections in Massive Filing Day

Eighteen Starbucks Stores across the United States Join in Simultaneous Union Filing

In a historical development, Starbucks employees from the Main Street & Wilson Road location in Newberry, S.C. alongside 17 other stores around the country, submitted a petition for a union election to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Tuesday. This record-breaking day of union filing ensued shortly after Starbucks Workers United concluded a second cycle of countrywide bargaining with the Starbucks administration, paving the way towards essential groundwork for store contracts.

Heightening the Push for Workers’ Rights

The employees from the Newberry Starbucks, through their election petitions, aim to stand alongside over 10,500 baristas advocating for fundamental issues like respect, living wages, racial and gender equity, and fair scheduling. Chesney Bolton, a shift lead of three years, shared, “Coming from a small town in the South, we don’t get many opportunities to make a change. We do everything together here, so fighting for this, for a company that can do better for us, we do it together! We look forward to joining the bargaining process to negotiate a contract that not only helps the partners in Newberry, but the partners across the country as well.”

Simultaneous Union Election Filings Nationwide

As part of the joint action, workers from the 18 involved stores penned a letter to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, expressing their shared experiences and demands for improved work conditions. The employees believe that forming a union is necessary to address their concerns, pushing for better wages, consistent scheduling, superior benefits, and a workplace that respects dignity.

Union elections were filed today at Starbucks stores across various U.S. states, including, Burbank, CA, Miami, FL, Bloomington, IN, Brighton, MA, Riverdale Park, MD, Jackson, MS, Troy Hills, NJ, New York City, NY, Toledo, OH, Akron, OH, Media, PA, Shadyside, PA, Newberry, SC, Dallas, TX, South Jordan, UT and Seattle, WA.

Starbucks Union Voice getting Louder

Since the first Starbucks partners bonded to form a union in 2021, over 440 Starbucks outlets have successfully held union elections with the NLRB in 43 states and the District of Columbia. This extraordinary organizing campaign relies on peer-to-peer organization, led by workers for workers, and has achieved victory in numerous store elections countrywide.

Positive Shifts through Collective Actions

Members of Starbucks Workers United have made substantial strides in negotiations, including the implementation of “just cause” standards and educational benefits for union members. The recent surge in filing demonstrates the expanding strength of unionization among Starbucks partners all over the country, following a string of successful joining campaigns in several states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin and beyond.

The sweeping filing news marks a significant milestone in the history of Starbucks worker’s rights and reflects an increasing trend of workforce unionization at the national level. With the recent gains, the united Starbucks workers continue to push for improved work conditions, bringing hopes of a brighter, more equal, and fair future for all Starbucks workers in the country.