Starbucks Workers in Newberry File for Union Elections

Starbucks employees at the Main Street & Wilson Road location in Newberry, SC, made advancements for their working rights yesterday. They submitted a petition to host a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), joining 17 other Starbucks branches that did the same across the United States.

A Stitch in the Nationwide Fabric

This considerable wave of union filings comes mere days after the Starbucks Workers United members rounded up a second cycle of national bargaining with Starbucks. Progress continues to be made towards establishing a basic outline for store contracts. The Newberry employees, with their election petitions, aim to become part of the more than 10,500 baristas fighting for core issues. These issues include respect, living wages, racial and gender equity, and fair scheduling.

“Coming from a small town in the South, we don’t get many opportunities to make a change. We look forward to joining the bargaining process to negotiate a contract that not only benefits us in Newberry but also the partners all over the country,” expressed Chesney Bolton, a shift lead of three years at the Newberry location.

A Consolidated Push

Employees from the 18 stores collectively penned a letter to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, announcing their organizing effort. They voiced their shared experiences and demands, chiefly underlining higher wages, consistent scheduling, improved benefits, and a dignified and safe workplace. They firmly stated their belief in the necessity of a union to address these concerns.

List of Locations

Below is the list of Starbucks outlets that submitted a demand for union elections:

• Burbank, CA
• Miami, FL
• Bloomington, IN
• Brighton, MA
• Riverdale Park, MD
• Jackson, MS
• Troy Hills, NJ
• 155 Water Street, NYC
• Nassau & Fulton, NYC
• 444 Broadway, NYC
• Toledo, OH
• Akron, OH
• Media, PA
• Shadyside, PA
• Newberry, SC
• Dallas, TX
• South Jordan, UT
• Seattle, WA

Pushing Forward: Unionization Growing Nationwide

Ever since Starbucks partners united to create a union in 2021, workers at over 440 Starbucks branches have won NLRB-organized union elections in 43 states and the District of Columbia. This historical organizing campaign is led by workers, for workers, and has resulted in victories in nationwide elections.

The union members have achieved significant progress in negotiations. Among the gains are standards of “just cause” and educational advantages for organized workers. The overwhelming filing announcement made today succeeds a string of recent victories. Workers voted to join Starbucks Workers United in several states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin, and more.

A Monumental Moment

This mass day of union filing represents a pivotal moment for workers’ rights across the country. It emphasizes the role collective bargaining can play in determining the future of work and workers at one of America’s largest and most recognizable brands.