A Starbucks worker boards the Starbucks union bus after Starbucks workers picketed outside the Netflix studios with striking SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America (WGA) members on July 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California stood.
Mario Tama | Getty Images
Starbucks and Workers United, which represents about 400 of its cafes, said in a joint news release Friday that they had made “significant progress” in their contract negotiations this week.
According to the press release, the two parties discussed a grievance resolution process, details on union representation for Starbucks baristas and other topics in Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday.
The two-day meeting marked the first time in nearly a year that Starbucks and Workers United came to the negotiating table. That followed an announcement in February that the two sides would end their bitter standoff.
The coffee giant fought the union, which is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), for more than two years. Workers United has generally advocated for higher wages and more consistent scheduling, among a number of other priorities.
This week’s talks are as close to a collective bargaining agreement as ever at any of the unionized locations that make up just a small portion of Starbucks’ total U.S. footprint.
However, there is still a long way to go.
“There is more work to be done, but we are committed to working together,” both sides said in a joint statement.
According to the press release, Starbucks and the union plan to meet again in late May to continue working on the framework that will form the basis for all individual store contracts. Once this foundation is in place, individual businesses still need to negotiate and ratify their contracts.
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.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Starbucks and Workers United represent approximately 400 coffee shops. The number was incorrect in an earlier version.
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2024-04-26 17:46:12
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