Three Starbucks locations in St. Louis vote for unionization

After a nationwide push to unionize Seattle’s coffee chain, Starbucks employees voted this week to approve union contracts at three locations in the St. Louis region.

Notably, the employees at Hampton and Wise, 1216 Hampton Ave. voted 17-0 to unite on Friday.

Two other stores were among those where union contracts were approved by employees. Voting took place Monday. Employees at the Lindbergh or Clayton location at 1500 Lindbergh Boulevard voted Monday. Ladue voted 12-3, while Chippewa voted 9-4 at the Kingshighway and Chippewa locations at 3700 Kingshighway Blvd. Mariana Orrego (an organizer for the labor union Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United) reported that employees voted 9-4 at the Kingshighway and Chippewa locations at 3700 Kingshighway Boulevard. Mariana Orrego is an organizer for the labor union Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United.

All local Starbucks employees who have applied for union representation were represented by the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United, a labor union that is an affiliate of Washington, D.C.-based Service Employees International Union.

According to Workers United’s website, it represents over 86,000 workers in the apparel and textile, industrial laundry and food service industries.

Ladue Starbucks employees were the first to file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. They requested a vote to approve a union agreement in March. In the weeks that followed, seven other St. Louis-area Starbucks employees followed their lead.

Two locations in Buffalo, New York filed for representation last year. In Buffalo, New York, two Starbucks locations filed for representation last year.

 

Starbucks spokesperson stated last month that they listen to and learn from partners in these stores, just like we do across the country.

The spokesperson stated that “So, with this petition our position has not changed.” “Starbucks’ success is built on how we work together, with our mission and core values.

Rossann Williams is the president of Starbucks’ North America division. She has been with the company for 17 years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Her involvement in responding to the unionization efforts of employees has been a major face for the company. Sara Trilling will succeed Williams as the president of Starbucks’ Asia Pacific region business.

The National Labor Relations Board reported Wednesday that 110 of the 9,000 Starbucks stores in America had been certified by the board. Starbucks has won 11 elections, and another 11 are under review.

Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq, SBUX), claims it has over 34,000 stores around the world.