☕️ No Contract, No coffee!
☕️ No Contract, No coffee!
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Who is SBWU?
As early as 2019, Starbucks workers began to realize that baristas across stores were experiencing the same systemic problems: short staffing and unpredictable scheduling, low wages, unaffordable healthcare, harassment, broken equipment, and unfair discipline.
As the global COVID-19 pandemic raged into 2021, workers across industries began flexing their power to demand better working conditions and wages. Inspired by the growing worker movement, the first Starbucks workers in the country began organizing the same year. Despite facing major union-busting from Starbucks, the first company-run Starbucks in the country was unionized with Starbucks Workers United in Buffalo, NY, on December 9, 2021.
The momentum has yet to fade. A diverse group of worker leaders has continued to organize, and now, over 450 stores and over 11,000 workers are officially unionized. In the latest string of victories, SBWU has finally pressured Starbucks to bargain a first contract in good faith.
A national movement
As Starbucks Workers United continues their historic organizing drive, Jobs With Justice coalitions in Philadelphia, Chicago, Portland, East Tennessee, Missouri, Long Island, Massachusetts, Central Florida, and Washington, D.C. are mobilizing around many newly unionized stores and worker organizers facing retaliation.
Despite a major CEO transition, a nationally televised hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, and billions lost in profit over boycotts, Starbucks has remained steadfast in their union-busting techniques over the years. With over 700 labor violations filed with the National Labor Relations Board, Starbucks has been found guilty of violating labor law at least three dozen times so far.
From adopting stores, and joining the Red Cup Rebellion, picket lines, and marches on the boss, the JWJ network continues to stand in solidarity with Starbucks Workers United across the country.
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Long Island JWJ Starbucks Workers’ Rights Board Hearing Report
This report includes testimonies from Starbucks workers and their concerns about health and safety on the job, gender inequities in hiring and promotion, harassment, scheduling, and more. Read more.
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Supreme Court Starbucks Ruling Seen as Gift to Corporate Union-Busters
Labor advocates decried Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Starbucks in a labor dispute between the international coffee giant and seven of its employees who were terminated after leading a unionization campaign at their Memphis store. Read more.
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SCOTUS and CEOs continue attacks on workers
What’s going on? A Starbucks in Memphis fired workers who were leading an effort to unionize their workplace. A court declared that action illegal and ordered the workers reinstated, but Starbucks appealed the decision all the way to the Supreme Court, which decided that it should be harder for a court to order reinstatement. Read more.
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Starbucks continues trend of retaliation
Starbucks is afraid of workers exercising their rights and wielding power. And terrified of democracy. Read more.
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Letter in Solidarity with Starbucks Workers
As our nation’s leading advocacy, environmental, civil rights, gender justice, and labor organizations, who represent nearly 62 million members and supporters, we stand by workers exercising their fundamental and constitutional right to form a union. Read more.
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FAITH LEADERS STAND WITH STARBUCKS WORKERS ON THEIR ROAD TO UNION VICTORIES!
The outpouring of community support–the countless rallies, sip-ins for #UnionStrong coffee, car caravans, social media support, and standing with striking baristas on the picket line — has been critical every step of the way! Read more.
Listen 🎧
“The new generation taking to the streets today are the ones who are winning. And that’s saying something to those who have been naysayers historically. I think that’s the magic of this moment, and why as anxiety producing as it can be for a lot of us, is why it feels like we’re on the upsurge – on a win.”
Erica Smiley, Executive Director of Jobs With Justice, dives into the exciting possibilities of worker-led movements and rebuilding democracy on an episode of Audie Cornish’s The Assignment. They’re joined by Starbucks Worker United organizer Nabretta Hardin of the Memphis 7.