Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday, June 27, 25 workers gathered to hear a panel of rank-and-file union members share their experience of bringing Palestine solidarity to the workplace, followed by practical discussions of how attendees can take action to support the Palestine struggle for liberation on the shop floor.

Co-emcees David Gilbert-Pederson, a longtime labor organizer and member of Minnesota Workers United, and Meredith Aby-Keirsted, a union educator and leader in the anti-war movement in the Twin Cities, introduced the lineup of panelists, who included Anthony Taylor-Gouge, a former member of UFCW 663 and organizer with AFSCME 3800 at the University of Minnesota; Natasha Dockter, first vice-president of MFT Local 59, and Revmira, a member of Starbucks Workers United.

“In my view, there are three kinds of organizing in the workplace: institutional, relational and personal,” said Dockter. Institutional organizing, she described, included the passage of a Pro-Palestine resolution shortly after October 7. The resolution angered Zionist groups, which aggressively lobbied union members to vote to repeal the resolution and release a counter-statement condemning the Palestinian resistance. The vote to repeal the Pro-Palestine statement failed. However, a counter-statement was passed.

“We learned from this experience, we needed to do more relational organizing to mobilize union members to vote against the counter statement. One-on-one conversations in the workplace are critical,” stated Dockter.

Members of MFT Local 59 have their pensions managed by the Minnesota State Board of Investments (SBI), which invests public sector union workers pensions in companies complicit in Israeli apartheid and genocide, as well as direct Israel bonds. Members of the local have been mobilized to speak at SBI meetings to demand divestment from Israel, “I don’t know of a single teacher that wants their money being used to kill and harm children and families. We do our jobs because we care about kids, and not just our own,” said Dockter.

A barista and member of Starbucks Workers United spoke about the contradicting realities within their workplace, stating, “The majority of our co-workers are very progressive, and very pro-Palestine,” the Starbucks corporation, however ,is one of the highest profile boycott targets for their support of the Israeli occupation. Starbucks Workers United faces legal barriers to supporting the boycott, but they were able to pass a pro-Palestine resolution, and many wear legally protected union pins displaying the Palestinian flag.

Not all unions or labor organizations release statements or take similar institutional steps. Anthony Taylor-Gouge worked at Seward Co-op in South Minneapolis for eight years and was an organizer with UFCW Local 663. During his time there, only weeks before October 7, the workers at Seward Co-op had the highest strike authorization vote percentage in local UFCW history, they won a contract the next day.

Taylor-Gouge described how this militant environment was very useful once the Palestine solidarity movement took off. Workers at Seward Co-op wore Pro-Palestine union pins, drawing criticism from their union, as UFCW has broadly not taken a stance against the genocide in Palestine. This contradiction demonstrates the importance of a militant rank and file in a union. There are times when members have to get their union to say no, and fight union bureaucracy when it goes against the wishes of its members.

In the discussion after panelists speeches, attendees were split up into three groups: members of private sector unions, public sector unions, and unorganized workers. Groups discussed how their workplaces and unions have related to Palestine solidarity work and discussed strategies to start or continue to build militant action in their workplace to support the Palestine solidarity movement and Palestinian resistance.

#MinneapolisMN #MNWorkersUnited #UFCW663 #AFSCME3800 #MFT #StarbucksWorkersUnited #Palestine

New Orleans, LA – On February 7, workers at Starbucks on Saint Claude Street won their union election in a 12 to 4 vote. This is the third Starbucks to unionize in New Orleans. Baristas complain of an unsafe work environment, lack of predictable or sufficient hours, and a workplace that is falling apart.

“I'm really proud of all our partners for showing up to vote and making their voices heard. We are hopeful that Starbucks will bargain with us in good faith and we can negotiate a contract that supports and represents all the lovely, hardworking employees at our store,” said Alexis Clark, who has been working at the location for two years.

“The efforts and plans we strived for finally paid off, this whole situation was a long time coming, and I'm happy with where we turned out,” barista Julian Musay said.

#NewOrleansLA #Labor #Starbucks #StarbucksWorkersUnited #Unionize

New Orleans, LA – On September 14, volunteers petitioned outside of five non-union Starbucks to rally customers against the company’s union busting.

Volunteers waved signs and collected signatures for an open letter condemning Starbucks’ repression. They canvassed at the Harrison, Claiborne, Freret, St. Claude, and Terry Parkway locations.

After a nearly two-year organizing wave, Starbucks workers still don’t have a contract. The company has launched the most widespread union-busting campaign in the country. This has included denying benefits to union workers and firing organizers. Despite this, over 350 stores have unionized to date. They’ve won informal concessions in pay, benefits and safety measures.

“Today members from Local 23 New Orleans are supporting Starbucks Workers United in their effort to organize and negotiate for a fair contract, in solidarity,” said Leah Bailey, UNITE HERE! community and political organizer.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization led the local action in response to a national call by Starbucks Workers United.

#NewOrleansLA #StarbucksWorkersUnited #UNITEHERE

Denton, TX, – On June 30 in Denton, Texas, the Rayzor Ranch Starbucks held a One Year Union Sip-In to celebrate the anniversary of the location’s successful union vote. People entering the store were greeted by a colorful table of activity sheets, community supporters writing messages to the union on a poster board for the break room, and a rainbow birthday cake.

“It's been a really incredible year and it feels great knowing that the support is still very much alive and active and that we're here, we're still going strong, and we're here to stay,” said Moo Amassyali, a lead organizer for the location.

For organizer Shreya Chaudhari, their biggest takeaway from this year of being unionized was the lesson of persistence, saying, “They will wear you down with time and time and time. You have to persevere through all the BS corporations will put you though. It’s quite literally having the persistence to go against it and say we don’t care. We don’t care that we have digital tips or not. We are still unionized, and you can’t fight that.”

Amassyali echoed this sentiment, saying that the past year has shown them that union organizing is, “a bit of a process, and it’s time consuming, but it’s definitely worth the time and effort that we need to put into this.”

Amassyali sees the impact of this persistence and effort extending beyond this one Starbucks location, noting, “I’ve had somebody from AutoZone reach out to me. Recently somebody from Target reached out to me. So there's workers from other corporations that are interested in this whole union thing, and they're like, how do we get started on this?”

Chaudhari agreed, saying, “There are people around us, even from Target, even from AutoZone, that are more than willing to support us in so many different ways and showing Starbucks that we are willing to strike. We are willing to do sip-ins. We are willing to do boycotts. We are willing to do so many different kinds of things to show up and say that we don't agree with how you're treating us and you need to listen to us.”

Organizers said management has been dishonest and inconsistent in the wake of the store’s unionization. Chaudhari recalled instances of the dress code being applied inconsistently, with union members being held to one standard and non-union employees being held to another.

Organizer Vince Martinez said that after the Rayzor Ranch location received a company-wide raise, management would tell other stores that the Rayzor Ranch location didn’t get the raise because they were unionized. “We were being used as this example of like, this store is bad because they unionized. That’s the dishonesty coming from straight from the managers,” said Martinez. “It’s like a completely different level of dishonesty. And not only dishonesty to us as union partners, but dishonesty to other stores that might want to unionize.”

Chaudhari encouraged community supporters to keep showing up to support the union, saying, “If we had any other kind of union events, we would love to know that the community, the people who order from this store and the regulars that our district manager could recognize say, ‘Hey, we don't agree with what you're doing to these people.’ That's what matters the most to us.”

Amassyali encouraged the community to support the union by tipping, showing up the store, expressing the support for the union and spreading the word about the unionized status of the store. They also promoted the No Contract, No Coffee Pledge, ( https://crm.broadstripes.com/ctf/SJID0H), an intake form where one can sign up to receive alerts about rallies, pickets, and other local events supporting Workers United. The Adopt-A-Store website ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9M92V-DoySSA7Nmcqe1NTmveAJrOlLLnwQzg6-LHKuk2wSQ/viewform) is also available for people interested in signing up to help new stores become unionized.

Martinez closed simply by saying, “Unionize your workplaces. Give them hell.”

#DentonTX #StarbucksWorkersUnited

Minneapolis, MN – Starbucks workers in the Twin Cities area went on strike on Wednesday, June 28 as part of Strike With Pride, a national strike action this week by Starbucks Workers United involving over 150 stores across the country. More than 50 Starbucks workers and supporters turned out to the picket line at the store on Silver Lake Road in Saint Anthony, which borders northeast Minneapolis

“Many of the workers that I know who are most active in Starbucks organizing are younger, queer and BIPOC,” said Gracie Nira, a worker at the 300 Snelling location and organizer with Starbucks Workers United. “Many of us initially got jobs with Starbucks because they offered coverage for gender-affirming healthcare. After the unionization drive started, they got rid of that. They haven’t bargained with any store. We won our store’s union election over a year ago, and they have just continually taken away benefits without bargaining. We wanted to strike during Pride month to celebrate ourselves while also letting Starbucks know that we see what they are doing.”

Along with Starbucks workers from a number of locations from around the Twin Cities, workers from other unions and community supporters participated in the spirited picket line, including a contingent of ten teachers who were members of the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE). “We think it’s very important to stand in solidarity with working people in our community, all these fights connect,” said Leah VanDassor, SPFE president, “If parents and families are struggling to make ends meet, their kids end up struggling in the classroom too.”

According to Starbucks Workers United statement on the week of strike action, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found that Starbucks has committed 161 federal labor law violations, and the federal government is prosecuting the corporation for 75 complaints which encompass over 200 charges, and alleging 1300 violations, including 77 discharges – making Starbucks “one of the worst violators of labor law in modern U.S. history.”

#MinneapolisMN #StarbucksWorkersUnited

Dallas, TX – 30 people rallied at the Inwood and Willow Starbucks in North Dallas, May 28, for a sip-in to show solidarity with unionization efforts at the location. During the sip-in, attendees left supportive messages on cash tips using post-it notes, gave names like “Union Strong” when ordering drinks, and left messages of support like “Union organizing is a right” and “Solidarity with Starbucks workers!” on a poster board to be hung in the Starbucks break room.

Kas Fox, lead organizer for the store, says she’s seen a lot of illegal union busting from Starbucks. Fox reports that Starbucks has forbidden workers from exercising their right to post union materials in the break room, forbidden workers from wearing pro-union pins, and retaliated against organizers by cutting their hours.

“Starbucks has been working very hard to show partners that they don't have any power and that they're still under the thumb of Starbucks, and I think we want to show that there's strength in numbers, there's people that really care about what's going on here outside of just the Starbucks sphere,” Fox said about the impact of solidarity with their efforts.

The Inwood and Willow location previously announced their intention to unionize on the Starbucks United on Twitter. In their announcement, workers cited many reasons why union organizing was right for them, including hostile treatment from management, last-minute changes to an already inconsistent schedule, and unlivable wages.

The election date for the Inwood and Willow Starbucks location is June 12.

#DallasTX #StarbucksWorkersUnited

New Orleans, LA – On May 22, workers at Starbucks on Poydras Street won their union election in an 11 to 5 vote. This is the second Starbucks to unionize in the state of Louisiana and the first with a majority-Black workplace. Baristas complain of unpredictable schedules, insufficient hours, lack of seniority-based promotions, and unsafe working conditions. On Mardi Gras day, a customer reached across the bar to punch a barista. Corporate only approved that customer’s ban after the union drive began, months later.

“We’re already winning safety protections just by unionizing. We got bumped to the priority store for facilities renovations. Now it’s about winning a strong contract,” said Serena Sojic-Borne, a shift supervisor of almost three years.

#NewOrleansLA #StarbucksWorkersUnited

New Orleans, LA – On April 14, employees at the Starbucks on Poydras Street filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. The store is located in a downtown hotel building, mainly serving tourists, professionals and workers in the area. Over 70% of staff support unionizing.

“I work three jobs just to afford a house and shouldn’t have to do that,” said Stormy Belozerows, a barista and organizer. Baristas complain of irregular schedules that make personal budgeting impossible.

Since the Canal location down the street closed last year, the store has made its highest sales. But workers complain of few and inconsistent weekly hours. They note that customers often have to wait 30 minutes or more for drinks because of too few staff on the floor.

“Our store is making record sales, but corporate says that they can’t afford more hours. They thank us by leaving us understaffed and overworked,” said Serena Sojic-Borne, a union organizer and member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

The store also deals with significant customer disruptions and harassment. During this year’s Mardi Gras, one guest tried to punch a barista across the bar. That customer has revisited the store since that incident and staff has not heard back from corporate about whether or not to ban her. Baristas say she has a friend in local management, Keisha Martin.

“We’re not allowed to ban customers even after they harass Starbucks partners as well as other customers,” shared René Gonzalez, another union organizer.

The Poydras store serves the most tourists of any Starbucks in the city. The filing marks a labor movement inroad into New Orleans’ hospitality industry.

“I’m voting to unionize because we deserve consistent work schedules, a living wage and a proper workplace environment that dignifies the service and value we create as baristas,” summarized organizer and barista Adrian Khes-Kovacs.

#NewOrleansLA #StarbucksWorkersUnited

Chicago, IL – On Wednesday, March 22, seven Starbucks stores in Illinois joined around 115 others across the country on strike, demanding an end to the ruthless and illegal union busting campaign being waged by the company against its workers. Five stores in Chicago as well as one in Rockford and one in Carbondale joined their coworkers nationwide in their demand for Starbucks to sit down and bargain in good faith.

Thanks to support from community allies, other unions, and folks in solidarity with the Starbucks Workers United movement, all seven stores in Illinois were able to keep their stores closed and send the few scabs and management who tried to open the shops home with their tails between their legs.

In a collective statement made by a striking store in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood, the workers declared, “Starbucks only works because we do!” This message echoed throughout the country. The strikes took place one day before the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting, as well as a week before former CEO Howard Shultz, is set to testify before the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, committee in the wake of the company's union busting.

The National Labor Relations Board has issued over 80 complaints against Starbucks for violating federal labor law, and Shultz, who initially declined to testify, only agreed to do so after threat of a subpoena from the HELP committee. The strikes also welcomed in new CEO, Laxman Narasimhan (former CCO of PepsiCo), who took over from Shultz two weeks earlier than expected, on March 20.

The movement happening at Starbucks is important the labor movement. The workers are relying on all the support they can get to push the company over the edge and take a seat at the table. To get in touch with an organizer about organizing your Starbucks workplace, or to learn more about how you can get involved in the movement, contact your local union shop, or go to https://sbworkersunited.org

#ChicagoIL #StarbucksWorkersUnited

The Starbucks on North Monroe in Tallahassee was the first Starbucks in the state of Florida to file and win their union. This happened just over a month after the first store in the country was unionized. Ollie Carter, a Starbucks partner for seven years, explained how the pandemic spurred the organizing at the store and how quickly the “ugliness came” from corporate management. While none of the baristas have been fired for organizing at this store, Starbucks has moved partners from different Tallahassee stores who were organizing to the already unionized North Monroe store.

Elijah Reid, along with the rest of the organizing committee at a separate Tallahassee store, was moved to the North Monroe store earlier this year. Reid explained that the reason for the strike was to demand backpay for raises withheld from the unionized store. From August 1 to August 29 a total of $5247.73 was withheld from workers as a punishment to those attempting to unionize.

Around 20 members of the community came out in solidarity with the union while dozens honked in support of the striking workers.

Later that same day, workers at Serenity Culture Co. engaged in a strike outside the front of their establishment. Serenity workers unionized in April and since then have been struggling with ownership to fight against discrimination, unfair wages and poor treatment. This strike happened after months of discussion with ownership about racist comments from previous management and a refusal to accept decisions made by staff.

After the previous management left, the workers voted for their next manager. While this was a first step to the “worker-run company” that ownership promised, this was quickly taken away. Tyler, one of the bartenders, explained how ownership wished to “tokenize members of FAMU” instead of truly integrating Serenity Culture Co. with the larger FAMU community.

Serenity workers were sick of what they saw as performative actions from ownership and demanded change. After chants, customer testimony and community engagement, the workers hoped that the owner would be forced to accept their demands. Instead, management decided to fire everyone and permanently close the store.

Although these strikes had different demands and different results, they were unified by a single purpose: improving working conditions at both of the stores.

If you would like to help the SBWU or the former Serenity employees, support the fired Serenity workers at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/serenity-bartenders-united?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Support the Starbucks strike fund at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-show-solidarity-with-john-knox-partners?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

#TallahasseeFL #strikes #StarbucksWorkersUnited

Minneapolis, MN – Workers at the Starbucks on 47th Street and Cedar Avenue location in Minneapolis walked out on strike, Sunday, July 31 in protest of Unfair Labor Practices committed by the company. Strikers lined the sidewalks in front of the store, chanting, “Venti, grande, mocha double; union busters, you’ve got trouble” and “Starbucks, Starbucks rich and rude. We don’t like your attitude.” The strike has full participation from the workers and the store is fully shut down. Customers were turned away at the drive-thru on Sunday morning and were told there’d be no coffee today or tomorrow.

After having won union representation in May, the workers, who are members of Starbucks Workers United, are excited to move forward and begin negotiating their first contract along with over 200 other unionized stores. However, Starbucks management has stonewalled on bargaining and is unilaterally changing store hours and forcing workers to work short-staffed.

The 47th and Cedar Starbucks Organizing Committee said in their statement to the store manager, “Over the last few weeks, conditions at our store have decreased significantly for workers and customers alike. While you and corporate have decided to blame us for the failures leading to this change, we disagree. As Starbucks Baristas and Shift Supervisors, we have provided the absolute best possible work under the conditions provided to us. However, you have left us to rot exhausted and in pain, leading to the spine of this location, the workers, to deteriorate even more so than any time before. You can hear it, you can SEE it, here today we stand in opposition to the actions and lack of action.”

In a video, Starbucks Organizing Committee member Kasey Copeland discusses why workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize and to strike.

Workers United International Vice President Kathy Hanshew said, “We are extremely proud of the workers of Starbucks 47th and Cedar. The Starbucks bosses are no match for this new generation of union activists, and no match for a united labor movement that is steadfast in its commitment to stand with them. All power to the Starbucks workers! This is a huge step forward for their movement and for all workers.”

The workers have a strike fund for unions and members who want to support financially:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/mn-sbux-united-strike-fund

Picketing Starbucks workers were joined on the lines by members of other unions, including AFSCME 3800-UMN Clerical Workers and MFT59-Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. The picket lines will remain in place on Monday, August 1.

#MinneapolisMN #StarbucksWorkersUnited

New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday, April 19, baristas at the Starbucks café on Maple Street filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union election. Workers complain about chronic understaffing, few hours and low wages. Poor scheduling was especially hard on the employees during Mardi Gras, when the New Orleans tourism industry is at its peak. Fight Back! interviewed Billie, a shift supervisor and organizer of the union drive. Billie’s last name is not being used due to concerns about company retaliation.

Fight Back!: What are the issues that made y’all want to start unionizing? Billie: I have this one coworker that’s been with the company for 13 years. I’ve been with the company for three years and we make the same amount of money. We all thought that was ridiculous. Why don’t we get paid more for being here longer?

Right before Mardi Gras, they started cutting out hours. It was the busiest season we had and we were so under-scheduled. That’s when I was like “We gotta do this right now.” Really it’s under-scheduling and our hours being cut.

Also, our wages should be better. We’re pushing for a $20 base pay, $23 for shift supervisors and a dollar for every year you’re with the company, adjusted for inflation.

We’re making so much profit for this company, and they say, “we’re spending too much on labor.” How can you spend too much on labor when you’re making so much profit, where do you think the profit comes from?

Fight Back!: What kind of support do you want from people outside Starbucks? Billie: I’ve been living for the outpouring of support. We’re so under-scheduled, and management is pretending we aren’t. One day I was so upset about this, but somebody came in that evening and gave us a bouquet of roses and a card with $20.

People come in and order a drink with “union strong” as their name, but I’ve been so overwhelmed by all the customers. Even to people coming in to support us, I really wanna be like thank you so much, but I’m on bar making seven drinks. I don’t have time to tell you how much I appreciate it.

I have a lot of people supporting me in organizing committees in the city. When I went to the library, someone there from the New Orleans City Workers Organizing Committee gave me all these fantastic resources.

Our Instagram is SBWorkersMapleStreet for people who want to follow us.

Fight Back!: What’s your message to other Starbucks workers? Billie: Starbucks can afford to give all of us better working conditions. The CEO, he pocketed a $4 million bonus or something like that. It’s ridiculous that some of us are struggling to pay rent and we’re being overworked and overwhelmed and we deserve better. We’re making them so many millions of dollars that we deserve.

We are the reason they have money in the first place.

Get in touch with Starbucks Workers United. Anyone in our district that wants to unionize can contact me, and I can help them out.

Fight Back!: What’s the status of the election? How do you think it could go? Billie: We don’t have a date for the election yet, the hearing is scheduled for May 9 to decide whether we’ll vote as individual store or as a district. This is the strategy that Starbucks has used in every case.

But I genuinely believe that we would win this election. There are 16 people at our store, and most of them are firm yesses.

#NewOrleansLA #StarbucksWorkersUnited

The unionization effort comes on a wave of such filings across the country. To date over 100 Starbucks stores have filed for unionization with Starbucks Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Flintridge & Academy is the second store to petition for unionization in Colorado Springs, and the fifth in the state.

Similar to other Starbucks across the country, the most common complaint amongst workers was the cutting of hours, with some workers being scheduled as little as four hours per week. “With a record profitable year, we’ve seen prices still going up and our hours being cut, and we think that’s unacceptable,” said Matthew Broussard, a barista from a nearby Starbucks that also filed for unionization last week. Starbucks also schedules workers for inconsistent shifts week to week, making many unable to even get a second job to make ends meet.

Over 70% of employees are supporting the union drive. The future looks bright for Colorado Springs Starbucks workers to win union recognition.

#ColoradoSprings #unionDrive #Starbucks #StarbucksWorkersUnited #FlintridgeAcademy