Central Ohio Starbucks workers at Neverland Drive and East Broad filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today, joining 18 other Starbucks stores across the country that also filed this week. The massive wave of union filings comes just days after Starbucks Workers United members wrapped a second round of national bargaining with Starbucks where the two parties continued to make significant progress toward a foundational framework for store contracts.
“If I go to my manager for help, nothing happens. If we all go together, Starbucks has no choice but to listen – that’s why we’re unionizing,” said Ash Wearly (he/him), a barista at the East Broad store (88 East Broad St.).
“This pride month we are showing up in solidarity with our partners who have paved the way for us. We are filing because we deserve a living wage, a safe and dignified work environment, and to be respected by Starbucks. We love our partners and want to make our store and this company a better place for all of us,” said Katherine Butler (she/her), a shift supervisor of eight years working at the Neverland Drive store (21 Neverland Dr. in Lewis Center).
With their election petitions, the Starbucks partners are seeking to join a growing nationwide movement of more than 10,500 baristas united to win justice at work, including protections on core issues like respect, living wages, racial and gender equity, and fair scheduling.
Workers from the 20 stores that filed this week co-authored a letter to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan to announce their organizing push.
“Though we work at different stores, we are united through our shared experiences and in our demand for higher wages, fair and consistent scheduling, improved benefits, and a safe and dignified workplace,” the workers wrote, continuing that they “believe that forming a union is necessary to address these concerns.”
Starbucks baristas in the 18 other cities and locations filed for union elections earlier.
Since Starbucks partners first joined together to form a union in 2021, workers at more than 440 Starbucks stores have won union elections with the NLRB in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The historic organizing campaign hinges on peer-to-peer organizing led by workers, for workers – and has won election after election in stores nationwide.
Union Starbucks partners met in Chicago last week and in Atlanta last month, kicking off historic negotiations toward a foundational framework for collective bargaining agreements. Hundreds of delegates representing all union stores participated with 150 delegates attending in person and another 280 joining virtually via caucuses outside of bargaining meetings.
Starbucks Workers United members have made significant progress in negotiations, including “just cause” standards and education benefits for organized workers, as partners across the country continue joining the growing union movement. Today’s massive filing announcement comes on the heels of dozens of victories in recent weeks in which workers voted to join Starbucks Workers United in Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia, Utah, Wisconsin and more.
