US Starbucks Employees Form First Union: What Are Starbucks' Wages and Benefits?

Starbucks' Wage Increase and Unionization Efforts in America

Over a month ago, the coffee workshop reported that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the American food and beverage industry is facing a "labor shortage." Consequently, Starbucks in the United States proposed a "salary increase plan" to address the severe labor shortage and hoped to retain existing employees by raising wages for all staff.

Here's the key point: This is already the third time in two years that Starbucks in America has announced salary and benefit adjustments for its employees!

However, these American Starbucks employees, who have already made their counterparts in China envious, seem unsatisfied with this latest salary increase plan...

Affected by the supply chain crisis and high inflation rates, American workers are facing new pressures and risks. Consequently, many workers hope to form unions to urge companies to increase wages and benefits to secure more rights for themselves.

Yes, that's right! Starbucks employees in America have also formed a union... and it has been approved! On December 9th local time, employees at a Starbucks store in Buffalo, New York, passed the resolution to form a union with a vote of 19 to 8. This will be the first unionized Starbucks in the United States in the company's 50-year history. Once formally established, the store will join Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

Starbucks has historically opposed the formation of unions, as the company hopes to treat all employees as "partners" rather than having a "traditional employment relationship." Therefore, any issues should be communicated directly with the company rather than through a union. In Starbucks' view, direct communication is most beneficial to store development.

But Starbucks employees don't see it that way! Because Starbucks has never shown corresponding sincerity! Employees supporting the union formation stated that even before COVID-19, the store already faced issues such as understaffing and equipment breakdowns that couldn't be repaired due to lack of funds. At that time, store employees hoped Starbucks would invest more in employee compensation, benefits, and store operations, but the company seemed to ignore these requests completely.

Until August this year, the employees at this store couldn't wait any longer! They began petitioning to vote for union formation because this would give them a direct channel to negotiate with the company! (Implying: You never gave partners the opportunity for direct communication). They also stated that to change Starbucks' attitude toward "partners," the working environment in the service industry needs to be improved, and forming a union is their first step.

After learning about this, Starbucks spent months urging baristas in Buffalo to vote against union formation... Seeing little effect, the company announced yet another increase in wages and benefits in November, stating that the decision to improve wages and working conditions was not a response to workers' attempts to form a union. However, this seemed to have little effect, as they continued petitioning for union formation in December... Regarding this matter, Starbucks doesn't believe unions are necessary but will respect workers' right to organize.

Due to the demonstration effect of this voting result, three other Starbucks stores in Buffalo and one store in Mesa, Arizona have also filed applications with the Labor Relations Board to vote on union formation. For stores that have already voted, it will take about another week to formally establish a union, as the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency, needs time to certify the voting results.

For their wages and benefits, American employees truly believe that "unity is strength"! After reading this article, Starbucks employees in China might think: We have 14 months of salary! Are we proud! We're not envious! (Inner thoughts: We're envious!! 😭)

Image source: Internet

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