Starbucks says it wants to resume union talks

Starbucks union talks overview: 

• Who: Starbucks sent a letter to Workers United International requesting the two sides resume contract talks in January. 
• Why: More than 360 Starbucks cafes in the U.S. have voted to unionize under Starbucks Workers United; however, no location has been able to reach a contract with Starbucks in more than two years since unionization began. 
• Where: Starbucks cafes around the U.S. have unionized. 

Starbucks has said it would like to resume contract talks in January with the union representing its baristas, Starbucks Workers United, more than two years after its cafes first unionized in the US. 

More than 360 Starbucks locations in the U.S. have since voted to unionize; however, no location is yet to reach a contract with the coffee giant, CNBC reports. 

Starbucks cafes that are unionized represent a total of 4% of the company’s locations in the U.S., with employees reportedly asking the company to raise their wages and fix alleged understaffing issues, among other things. 

Negotiations between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United began more than a year ago, but the talks have not yielded a positive result, with each side claiming the other has failed to bargain in good faith, according to CNBC. 

Starbucks has reportedly insisted up to this point on conducting only face-to-face negotiations with the union, which has subsequently accused the company of doing so as a stalling tactic. 

Starbucks asks Workers United for support, agreement to restart the bargaining process

In a letter obtained by CNBC, Starbucks Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly wrote to the president of Workers United International, Lynne Fox, reportedly asking for her support and agreement to restart the bargaining process. 

“We collectively agree, the current impasse should not be acceptable to either of us,” Kelly wrote, as reported by CNBC. 

Kelly reportedly outlined certain conditions that needed to be met for the two sides to continue negotiations, including an agreement that no audio, video recording or feeds would be allowed. 

Starbucks Workers United said it has received the letter from Starbucks and that it plans to respond after reviewing it, CNBC reports. 

Starbucks filed a lawsuit against Workers United in October over claims the union damaged its brand by allegedly using the company’s name and logos in posts made in support of the Palestinians during their ongoing conflict with Israel. 

Workers United shot back with a lawsuit of its own against Starbucks, arguing the company’s claims are defamatory and a false attack against its reputation that was simply done to make the union look bad. 

Do you believe Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United will be able to reach a contract agreement? Let us know in the comments.

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