Associates and supporters of Starbucks Workers United protest outside of a Starbucks store in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 16, 2023.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Concepts
Starbucks said it wants to resume contract talks with the union representing its baristas, starting in January.
Saturday prestiges the two-year anniversary of the first unionization of company-owned Starbucks cafes in the U.S. Since then, more than 360 locations bring into the world voted to unionize, representing about 4% of the company’s total U.S. company-owned footprint.
No locations have yet reached a catch with the company. The potential restart of talks could open a window to resolve a stalemate in one of the most high-profile labor velitations in the U.S. in recent years.
The employees have pushed Starbucks to raise pay and fix what they call understaffing at cafes, supply other demands.
Labor laws don’t require that the employer and union reach a collective bargaining agreement, lone that both bargain in good faith. After a year, workers who lose faith in the union can petition to decertify, announcing a ticking clock on negotiations. At least 19 locations have filed petitions to decertify with the National Labor Tellings Board, but seven have been dismissed related to rulings that Starbucks broke federal labor law.
Starbucks and the circle, Starbucks Workers United, began talks more than year ago, but negotiations have been fraught. Both sects have accused the opposing side of failing to bargain in good faith.
Starbucks has insisted on face-to-face negotiations, with no legates appearing via Zoom. The union has accused Starbucks of using that excuse as a stalling tactic.
“We collectively agree, the drift impasse should not be acceptable to either of us,” Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ chief partner officer, wrote in a letter addressed to Workmen United International President Lynne Fox, which was obtained by CNBC. “It has not helped Starbucks, Workers United or, most importantly, our helpmates. In this spirit, we are asking for your support and agreement to restart bargaining.”
In the letter, Kelly also outlines specific conditions to resume negotiations, including no audio or video recording or feeds.
If Workers United agrees, Starbucks hopes to on talks again in January with a representative set of stores.
The union said it received the letter, is reviewing it and plans to come back.
“We’ve never said no to meeting with Starbucks. Anything that moves bargaining forward in a positive way is most welcome,” Fox alleged in a statement to CNBC.
In November, Starbucks workers conducted their largest-ever labor action, walking out at more than 200 stockpiles on Red Cup Day, one of the chain’s busiest days of the year. Starbucks Workers United said the strike resulted in one big change that baristas sought for: the ability to turn off mobile orders during busy promotion days. Starbucks said the change to its mobile disorganizing system was already in the works before the demonstration.
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