Starbucks and the union representing its baristas will resume contract negotiations on Wednesday, ending a lengthy standoff.
The two sides’ return to the bargaining table follows their announcement in February that they had found a “constructive path forward” in mediation talks related to a dispute over the union’s use of Starbucks branding. It marked a major turning point for Starbucks, which had spent the past two years battling Workers United and the broader movement to unionize its cafes.
About 500 company-owned Starbucks in the U.S. have voted to unionize with Workers United since the first election in December 2021, according to a tally from the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. But none of these locations, which represent only a small portion of the total U.S. footprint, came anywhere close to a collective bargaining agreement.
Starbucks and the union, affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, had previously met to negotiate, but those talks quickly ended in a stalemate. Both sides have accused each other of sabotaging the talks.
Starbucks had previously insisted on in-person negotiations, with no representative appearing via Zoom. The union has accused Starbucks of using this excuse as a stalling tactic. This time, about 150 union representatives will appear in person to negotiate, while several hundred more will speak remotely outside of in-person meetings.
Store agreements are negotiated and ratified separately, but the union could make proposals that could affect all Starbucks workers it represents. Workers United has generally advocated for higher wages and more consistent scheduling, among a number of other priorities.
Labor law does not require that employers and unions enter into a collective agreement, only that both negotiate in good faith. After a year, workers who have lost confidence in the union can apply for de-registration, putting negotiations on hold.
There are 19 decertification applications pending with the NLRB. Citing unfair labor practices at Starbucks, the labor board denied 18 additional takedown requests.
The company said it has also negotiated with other unions that represent its cafes, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is negotiating a deal outside Pittsburgh.
The resumption of contract negotiations comes a day after another important moment for both Starbucks and unions. On Tuesday, the company appeared before the Supreme Court to appeal a lower court’s approval of an injunction sought by the NLRB to reinstate seven laid-off workers at a Memphis coffee shop.
Starbucks argued that other agencies seeking an injunction have a higher hurdle to obtain one than the Labor Department. Experts say the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling could weaken the NLRB — and organized labor. The court is expected to publish its decision in the summer.
Starbucks may share more about union negotiations during its quarterly earnings release. The coffee giant is expected to report its results on Tuesday.
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2024-04-24 16:49:44
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