Starbucks Workers United organize the USA - started in 20 branches around Buffalo

Dossier On August 23, 2021, Starbucks Workers United published an open letter to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson announcing their plan to form a union for 20 stores around Buffalo and calling on Starbucks to adhere to a set of principles to maintain fair elections. Some of the workersInside, Workers United organizers had been discussing the potential formation of a Starbucks union for several years, but had never found the right time. Now that the Corona pandemic is working conditions for Starbucks workershas worsened internally, and the U.S. economy is facing a labor shortage that is causing companies to shed workersare more difficult to replace inside, Starbucks Workers United has the feeling that the balance of power has tipped in their favor... See here: “We have to increase the pressure”: 12,000 Starbucks baristas call for a boycott of the illegal coffeehouse chain in the USA – until the collective agreement 12,000 Starbucks employeesinside calls for a boycott of the illegal coffeehouse chain in the USA ““We know: When working people stand up for their rights together, we win.” Starbucks employees who joined the union movement that began in Buffalo, New York in 2021 and has now spread to over 700 stores nationwide, called on all workers to show solidarity by boycotting the coffeehouse chain, which has refused to sign a union contract and has been accused of hundreds of labor law violations. “What we are fighting for is simple: a $17 an hour minimum wage, enough hours to live on, better staffing in our stores and basic workplace protections,” Starbucks Workers United (SWU) said Tuesday. “Every year our cost of living rises, but our wages fail to keep pace – a growing pressure felt by many American workers as corporate greed grows unchecked in our country.” (…) Starbucks and the union returned to the bargaining table in April after a months-long nationwide strike. At the height of the walkout, approximately 4,500 baristas reportedly picketed 230 stores in more than 130 cities. The SWU originally called for a minimum wage of $20 an hour. Baristas in 43 states earn starting wages of $16 an hour or less. The union is calling for annual wage increases of 4%, arguing that inflation has negated the benefits of small annual wage increases.The employees also demand that at least three employees are always present in the branches. (…) The union noted that the National Labor Relations Board and its judges “have found that Starbucks has committed hundreds of labor law violations and currently has more than 550 unresolved allegations of unfair labor practices pending against the company.” The company fired employees for their union activities, unlawfully withheld wages and benefits, and unlawfully monitored employees. The call for a boycott coincided with the annual release of Starbucks' fall menu, which includes the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte, which earned the company $2 billion in its first decade..." In order for the company to finally sign a collective bargaining agreement with its 12,000 unionized baristas, Starbucks Workers United announced a boycott of the chain on August 25. In addition to individual customers, they are calling on organizations and unions to stop supporting the coffee giant - including avoiding catering orders and sponsorship - until a collective agreement is reached. The AFL-CIO has already joined in, and the 25,000-member Chicago Teachers Union voted for a boycott on August 26.Members of the Starbucks Workers United union staged their largest and longest strike to date last November, demanding the company resolve 550 allegations of unfair labor practices and negotiate in good faith. Three thousand baristas in 100 cities stopped work; in some cases the strike lasted into January. They asked customers to delete the Starbucks app and avoid visiting all branches. The company seemed willing to negotiate for a moment, but then reverted to a standoffish stance, the baristas said. “They will continue to stall and stall as long as they think they can get away with it,” said Campbell Marusa, who has worked as a barista in Greeley, Colorado, for five years. There were still isolated strikes. On August 15 and 16, workers in California, Missouri, Tennessee and Pennsylvania stopped work. The walkouts took place during the "Unicorn Frappuccino" weekend, when stores briefly offered a complicated, multi-colored drink that drove up sales and exhausted workers. The baristas were told they had to work that weekend and could only take time off in emergencies. In Nashville, baristas walked off work Aug. 15 to raise awareness of a new blending powder the company introduced in mid-July that spread easily into the air and gave employees sore throats, coughs and headaches when inhaled.(…) To stop the union's spread, the company has committed the highest number of unfair labor practices in U.S. history, 550 of which remain unresolved. Despite well-documented attempts at intimidation by management, the union continues to grow by several branches per month. (…) HARD PACE, ANGRY CUSTOMERS With insufficient staff to handle the workload, baristas say they are forced to complete their work at a grueling pace while customers face long wait times. Customer frustration comes at the expense of employees. “All employees in my store were scheduled for fewer hours than they stated due to our ‘staffing budget,’” Marusa said. For this reason, employees cannot take sick leave, otherwise they would fall below the prescribed number of hours. (…) Another sticking point is the annoying requirement to write something happy and spontaneous on every cup. Anyone who does not comply will face disciplinary action. Someone wrote on Reddit that they were fired for "failing to put the required labels on the cups that were placed in the serving tray."Another replied: "Nothing annoys me more than when I'm running a shift and have an emergency call, helping out at the bar and running around getting a million things done, and my manager comes up to me and says, 'There are no excuses for not writing on the cups.'" "INHALING PLASTERBOARD DUST" The union scored a victory in mid-August when Starbucks released its new Blending Powder Beverage Mix, the was used in cold “soft drinks” and caused respiratory problems for many baristas. Many took to social media to share their reactions to the powder. The union hired Peter Orris, a professor of occupational medicine at the University of Illinois Medical Center, to evaluate the powder's ingredients. He found that three of them - gum arabic, xanthan gum and amorphous silica - are associated with respiratory problems when inhaled. He recommended wearing respiratory masks, special ventilation and special cleaning measures when handling the product. Workers who experience reactions should avoid the product, he wrote. Baristas celebrated the product's withdrawal on social media. (…) “We have to increase the pressure,” said Marusa, referring to the boycott. She called on unions and other organizations to pass a resolution to “create a Starbucks-free organization [and] encourage members of your community to boycott Starbucks.” English Article by Jenny Brown from 27.August 2026 in LaborNotes (machine translated) See the action page: https://www.boycottstarbucks.net/ [Documentary] Baristas, billionaires and (Alec) Baldwin: The Starbucks baristas continue to fight for a collective bargaining agreement. " In 2021, workers in Buffalo, New York, made history by becoming the first Starbucks store in the United States to form a union. Five years later and after ​" the most aggressive and illegal anti-union campaign in our country's modern history," nearly 700 Starbucks stores are unionized and workers are still fighting for their first collective bargaining agreement. A new feature-length documentary, Baristas vs Billionaires, tells the story of Starbucks Workers United from the perspective of the campaign's organizers and participants. On this episode of Working People, Maximillian Alvarez spoke with director Mark Mori and associate producer Alec Baldwin about why they made the film, as well as the complicated history and struggles of unions in Hollywood." English Podcast by Maximillian Alvarez on May 21, 2026 in In These Times (machine translated) Starbucks is negotiating backwards, say the baristas “ The union's baristas are finally back at the negotiating table with Starbucks, but workers are accusing the company of re-discussing points that have already been agreed upon instead of making progress.“They're trying to go backwards on issues that we've already resolved, instead of resolving the few remaining issues,” said Mina Leon, a barista in downtown Manhattan who went on strike for two months to bring the company back to the negotiating table. “These were not small things, but things that we had already fought for and won after months of negotiations in 2024,” said Jasmine Leli, a barista from Buffalo, New York, and a member of the Starbucks Workers United negotiating team. The union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the company because of regressive negotiating tactics. This joins 600 other violations of labor law that are still unsolved. During the four-year organizing campaign, the company committed a record number of violations and still owes workers millions in back wages. The company said it had renegotiated the contracts to “take into account current business realities, customer expectations and partners’ interests.” Starbucks refers to its employees as “partners.” (…) Determined to return to the bargaining table After a year of no negotiations, workers in hundreds of stores went on strike in November, December and January to bring the company back to the bargaining table. At the height of the work stoppages, around 230 branches stopped working. Starbucks Workers United now represents 550 of the 10,000 stores the company operates in the United States.Negotiations broke down at the end of 2024, and although the parties turned to an arbitrator in April 2025, the company refused to give in on demands for wages and staffing. The union had originally called for a starting wage of $20 an hour in all branches. Now she has scaled back her demand to $17 an hour for the lowest paid workers. Baristas in 43 states start out making $16 or less. They are also demanding annual wage increases of 4 percent. The symbolic wage increases of the past few years have been eaten up by inflation, meaning that employees are now worse off, say the baristas. Another big problem is staffing. “Staff shortages in stores have resulted in long wait times for customers, while baristas who want more hours are not earning enough to pay their bills,” Leli said. NOT ENOUGH TIME The union is demanding that three employees be present in the branches at all times to address both overload and safety issues. The company is known for hiring additional employees while current employees ask for more hours to make ends meet. The union is demanding that existing employees be given more hours before hiring new employees. Baristas report that wages and limited hours are such that they rely on food stamps and must enroll in Medicaid because they cannot accumulate enough hours of work to qualify for company health insurance. New rounds of negotiations are coming soon.The union is calling on citizens to apply pressure by handing out fliers outside non-union stores on April 21, asking customers to avoid the company until a collective bargaining agreement is in place...” April 16, 2026 article by Jenny Brown in LaborNotes (machine translated) “Starbucks has not commented on the ICE visits to our stores and has even suggested that we are serving them despite the violence and kidnappings we have all witnessed It is time for the company to follow the example of other companies and make our branches safer from the ICE! Post from Starbucks Workers United from February 3, 2026 on bsky with video The “Rebellion of the Red Cups” has been spreading in over 85 US cities for over 20 days - Starbucks would rather pay a fine of $35.5 million in New York than collective wages. Starbucks is paying $35 million to New York workers as part of a settlement while the ongoing strike attracts politicians to the picket line. " A NYC DCWP investigation found that Starbucks violated Fair Work Week Laws 500,000 times and is now paying back $35.5 million to workers. "Starbucks will pay $35 million to New York City workers in settlement as ongoing strike draws politicians to the picket line.NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks will pay more than 15,000 New York City workers about $35 million to settle claims over denied set hours and arbitrary reductions in their hours, city officials announced Monday, hours before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders visited striking baristas on a picket line. The development comes amid an ongoing Starbucks union strike that began last month and affected dozens of locations across the country. (…) The striking baristas described a hectic workplace with chronic staff shortages, online orders so complex that the order is sometimes longer than the cup, and last-minute calls to show up for work. (…) Under the agreement announced Monday with the New York Office of Consumer and Employee Protection, Starbucks will pay $3.4 million in civil penalties in addition to the $35 million it will pay its employees. The company also agreed to comply with the city's Fair Work Week Law going forward. (…) Most affected hourly employees will receive $50 for each week of work between July 2021 and July 2024, according to the ministry. Workers who experienced a violation after this period may be able to receive compensation by filing a complaint with the ministry. “I really hope this wakes up Starbucks,” said Kaari Harsila, 21, a shift manager at a Brooklyn store who took part in a picket line Monday.The agreement also guarantees that employees laid off as part of the city's recent store closures will have the opportunity to be rehired at other Starbucks locations. The city began investigating in 2022 after receiving dozens of complaints from employees against several Starbucks locations. The investigation eventually expanded to hundreds of branches. The city said the investigation found, among other things, that most Starbucks employees never had regular work schedules, making it difficult for employees to plan other commitments such as child care, education or other jobs..." December 2, 2025 Associated Press article by Jennifer Peltz (machine translated) and reads: "TODAY IS A BIG DAY! A NYC DCWP investigation finds that Starbucks has violated the Fair Work Week Laws 500,000 times and must now pay back $35.5 million to workers @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social and @sanders.senate.gov have joined us on the picket line to find out what happens next.” English Posted by Starbucks Workers United 12/1/25 on bsky The Red Cup Rebellion Spreads " A new wave of union baristas joins the longest ULP strike in Starbucks history as allies and customers support their fight. More unionized Starbucks baristas are participating in a ULP strike Friday, joining the longest unfair labor practices (ULP) strike in Starbucks history.With hundreds of new unionized baristas from 26 new stores in nearly 20 new cities joining the picket lines, 2,500 baristas from over 120 stores in 85 cities are now participating in the indefinite ULP strike, which began on Red Cup Day, November 13th and expanded on November 20th, to protest Starbucks' historic anti-unionism and failure to negotiate a fair one to protest union contract. (…) Union stores in the following cities joined the ongoing indefinite ULP strike on Friday: Benton, Arkansas; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Alpharetta, Ga.; Rockford, Ill.; Bloomington, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Gardner, Mass.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Saint Louis, Missouri; New York, New York; Apex, North Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Salem, Ore.; Reading, Pa.; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Bountiful, Utah; South Salt Lake, Utah; Woods Cross, Utah; Richmond, Va.; Fitchburg, Wis.; and Madison, Wisconsin. They join baristas from union stores in the following 65+ cities as they continue to conduct an indefinite ULP strike. For a complete list of cities where workers are on strike, see this memo to interested parties from Workers United. (…) Baristas and allies are taking their fight to new fronts: “Wherever Starbucks is, our pickets will be there too.” The expansion of the ULP strike on Friday builds on recent actions by the Red Cup Rebellion at key corporate locations.Last week, dozens of delivery trucks turned around in front of a picket line formed by hundreds of baristas and allies outside Starbucks' largest global distribution center in York, Pennsylvania. On Monday, hundreds of unionized baristas and allies brought their ULP strike to the satellite branch Starbucks set up for CEO Brian Niccol in Newport Beach, California. (…) In solidarity with the striking baristas, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) has approved the nationwide ULP strike. Teamsters drivers across the country are refusing to break picket lines to deliver groceries, pick up trash or take packages to striking Starbucks locations. The striking baristas are also supported on the picket lines by strike kitchens organized by local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). .." English message from November 28, 2025 from the union (machine translated, emphasis ours) "Solidarity with @teamsters.bsky.social, who have sanctioned our strike nationwide and will not deliver food, will not pick up garbage and will not transport packages across the picket lines! #NoContractNoCoffee" English. Post from Starbucks Workers United from November 26th, 2025 on bsky with video United States: The strike at Starbucks “The International Trade Union Network for Solidarity and Struggle welcomes and publishes the important movement of Starbucks workers in the United States of America.More than 18 months after negotiations began on a national framework contract, baristas are striking to protest a growing list of unresolved unfair labor practices allegedly committed by Starbucks as the company continues to block progress toward a fair contract. A quick summary of how Starbucks is hindering progress toward a fair contract: National framework negotiations began in April 2024. Over the next nine months, Starbucks baristas and executives met for hundreds of hours and reached 33 tentative agreements that will lead to tangible improvements in working conditions. In September 2024, the union's baristas presented for the first time a series of economic negotiation proposals to increase wages and benefits. In December 2024, Starbucks rejected all of the baristas' proposals and instead presented a dubious economic package that neither provided for a wage increase in the first year of the contract nor addressed the key issues of working hours and staffing. The negotiations failed. Starbucks deviated from the previously agreed path. This led Workers United to file a national unfair labor practice (ULP) lawsuit in December 2024, alleging that Starbucks failed to bargain in good faith and undermined the union's representative status. This ULP was modified and expanded in April 2025. In 2025, the company unlawfully implemented new policies, including elements of “Back to Starbucks” and the restrictive new dress code, without negotiating with the union, resulting in additional ULP charges.Workers United filed over 100 new ULP lawsuits last year. Recently, Starbucks announced that it would return to the bargaining table to "talk" - but without Starbucks' willingness to make new proposals that address baristas' demands for more hours and staffing, higher wages, and the elimination of hundreds of unfair labor practices, a return to the bargaining table is pointless. (…) We demand better working hours in order to improve staffing in our branches. Staff shortages are widespread, leading to longer wait times when customer orders come in. Yet too many baristas still don't receive enough hours to pay their bills or meet minimum benefits requirements. Starbucks needs to invest in increasing our working hours. We demand higher net wages so that we can pay our bills. Too many baristas are struggling to survive while managers are making millions. Starbucks needs to invest more money in our take-home pay. We demand clarification of hundreds of pending cases of unfair labor practices for the purpose of fighting unions. The coffee giant has committed more labor law violations than any other employer in modern history. Starbucks must fully resolve all legal issues affecting baristas. [ https://sbworkersunited.org/our-strike/ ] “Declaration of solidarity from December 1st, 2025 at Laborsolidarity (machine translated) The indefinite strike at Starbucks USA begins before the 13th.November - the massively announced customer solidarity can also be practiced in Germany " With 92% yes votes, the unionized Starbucks baristas overwhelmingly approve a ULP strike The unionized barista workers announced on Wednesday that they have approved an indefinite strike due to unfair labor practices (ULP). 92% voted "yes", and this before the critical Christmas period. The vote came after Starbucks refused for six months to make new proposals to address workers' demands for better staffing, higher pay and a resolution to hundreds of unfair labor practice claims. "Our fight is about making the Starbucks jobs the best jobs in retail. Right now it's just the best job in retail for Brian Niccol," said Jasmine Leli, a 3-year Starbucks barista and strike leader from Buffalo, NY. "Things have only gone backwards at Starbucks under Niccol's leadership, but a fair union contract and the resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges are essential to the company's turnaround. Too many of us rely on SNAP or Medicaid just to make ends meet, and most baristas still don't earn a living wage.In most states, the starting wage is just $15.25 an hour – and even then we don’t get the 20 hours a week we need to qualify for benefits.” Unionized baristas are poised to turn Starbucks' Red Cup Day into a Red Cup Rebellion if Starbucks doesn't reach a fair contract by November 13th. Strike action could begin in more than 25 cities, and baristas are prepared to escalate if they do not see new proposals and substantial progress toward a contract agreement that addresses pay, hours and staffing, as well as the resolution of hundreds of ULPs. November 5, 2025 message from Starbucks Workers United (machine translated) - see current: #NoContractNoCoffee: No contract, no coffee, no scabs: Starbucks baristas strike US-wide and with widespread support "This is an indefinite strike... They will strike until they win. This is a major escalation... This must be pretty scary for the suits." More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers in over 40 cities across the U.S. walked off work on Thursday, November 13, in an indefinite strike against unfair labor practices.The Starbucks Workers United union says more workers at more unionized stores will join the picket lines during the busy holiday season to put pressure on Starbucks to return to the bargaining table with proposals that seriously address workers' ongoing demands for better pay and hours, safe staffing levels and the resolution of the hundreds of unfair labor practice charges filed against the coffee giant. TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez reports on the ground from the picket line in Philadelphia, PA.” English Video by Maximillian Alvarez from November 14, 2025 at The Real News - see from the transcript (machine translated): "...We are currently at Philadelphia City Hall and are here to continue the first day of our strike against unfair labor practices at Starbucks. Today is the first wave of a multi-stage strike that we are expanding. We are one of several cities that started today, and perhaps some other stores elsewhere as well. So we will end up on strike with hundreds of stores with thousands of partners." At this point, our union and the company have agreed on most of our first contract. The main points that the company has left the negotiating table on are the economic aspects. These are our health care, our benefits and our staffing levels. These are the things that are holding up the contract.(…) The company will try to give the impression that it has to raise the prices of drinks so that it can afford to pay what we demand. I just want to make it clear that they don't need to raise drink prices any more than they already have. They have enough money to fund this entire contract with just one day of sales from around the world. It would only take a day to get the fair deal we deserved. So I know it's going to be very frustrating because of the price increase, but I think it's very important to understand that we're out here fighting for better conditions so that we can give you as a customer a better experience..." See also SEIU_ORG's call for solidarity on bsky : We stand with the workers — not the billionaire brewing union busting on the side. #NoContractNoCoffee " BREAKING: Baristas at Starbucks in Downtown Disney couldn't stop their bosses' unfair labor practices take longer and started our nationwide strike this weekend. These employees have closed one of the largest Starbucks branches in the country - and that's just the beginning! Starbucks Workers United post from November 9, 2025 with video "Starbucks baristas at the Downtown Disney Store in Disneyland - and across the country - are preparing for a strike if Starbucks does not finalize the contracts and end the union crackdown by November 13th. It would take less than ONE DAY OF SALES to finalize these contracts." English Post from Starbucks Workers United dated 8.November 2025 with video campaign page https://www.nocontractnocoffee.org/ - for customer solidarity see the last message here: "Can 100% guarantee I won't cross a Starbucks picket line": Starbucks Workers United's growing October strike campaign successfully relies on customers "The unionized Starbucks employees elect strike captains and get customers to promise that they will not cross the picket line. They gather outside stores with picket signs, borrowing a slogan that the UPS Teamsters used during their campaign for the 2023 contract: “We just practice for a fair contract.” Thirty-eight stores picketed in early October, and starting October 25, 80 more stores plan to picket and require their customers to take a "no contract, no coffee" pledge not to visit Starbucks in the event of a strike. “We’re all ready to strike,” said Jhoana Canada, a barista in Nashville. As they picketed their store, many customers learned for the first time that they were unionized. “It’s just continued, outpouring support,” she said. (…) Over 12,000 employees in 650 US stores are members of Starbucks Workers United, part of Workers United/SEIU. But Starbucks operates 10,000 stores in the U.S., so asking the public to avoid all stores during a strike represents an important escalation. The union staged short strikes over unfair labor practices at 300 stores just before Christmas last year after 98 percent of workers voted to strike.She had previously gone on strike regularly to bring the company to the negotiating table and had struck many individual branches because of blatant safety violations or significant understaffing. (…) Even without a contract, the union increased wages in Starbucks stores nationwide as the company tried to prevent additional union votes. Starting salary ranges from $15 to $19 per hour depending on location. In some places it is higher to comply with minimum wage laws. The union's efforts have also resulted in electronic tipping at all branches. The company initially illegally punished the union branches by excluding them from tipping, but a court ordered the retaliation to end. Starbucks agreed to expand the tipping bonus to all stores in February 2024 and provide back pay and benefits to excluded union workers. (…) In September, the company closed 500 stores, including 59 unionized stores, as part of its restructuring plan, saying these locations could not be adapted to the new standards. But the plan was more expensive and chaotic than necessary, union members said, because the rapid rollout meant breaking leases and paying severance payments. Employees were generally given two days' notice of their dismissal. But in this case too, the protection of the unions helped. In unionized stores, workers were able to negotiate severance packages for all laid-off employees.In a non-union store, Franco said, "if you decline the transfer [to another store], you don't get severance pay. However, in a union store, you can turn down the transfer offer and still get severance pay." “Our movement has survived the last four CEOs,” said Franco, who was elected his branch’s strike leader. "We are better organized, we fought better. You can put four more CEOs in front of us. We will still be here."" English article by Jenny Brown from October 21, 2025 in LaborNotes ("Strike Captains and Practice Pickets: Starbucks Workers Aim to Bring a Contract Home", machine translated), see Petition and Solidarity Pledge: No Contract, No Coffee Solidarity T-Shirt "Never Cross A Picket Line - SCABS ARE BIG!” For updates, see Starbucks Workers United on bsky "Starbucks is on the ropes," says SBWU President Lynne Fox, who is heading for a strike "Investors should know that as they continue to stonewall and fight with unionized baristas, Starbucks is not afraid to do whatever it takes to get the fair contract they deserve," writes Fox. “This includes a strike if necessary.” Starbucks' logo, the green siren, is ubiquitous, and its 40,000 stores occupy an estimated 80 million square feet of real estate worldwide. But that doesn't make the company too big to fail. The next three months will determine the future of this iconic US company. Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol passed his first anniversary in office this week, September 9th.He was chosen to replace the previous CEO because of his reputation for turning things around amid declining sales and brand damage. At the time, he wrote this about unionized baristas: "If our partners choose to be represented, I will work to ensure that we work constructively and in good faith with the union and the partners it represents." A year later, Niccol is pushing a “Back to Starbucks” strategy that is implementing a dizzying number of policy and program changes. Baristas have said the changes make their jobs harder, not easier, and stores remain understaffed. This strategy is currently doomed to failure because you can't get "Back to Starbucks" without properly honoring the people who make up the Starbucks experience - including current and future unionized baristas. That's why we're calling on Niccol to return to the bargaining table, address our remaining demands for better wages and working conditions for employees, and listen to unionized baristas who have thoughtful solutions for how the company could fix the brand's problems. The barista union's first demand is more working hours to improve store staffing. Baristas like Arloa Fluhr from Illinois aren't getting the hours they demand, even when stores are understaffed. Fluhr is a barista and mother of three who relies on Starbucks health insurance to care for her diabetic daughter.The catch: You have to work an average of 20 hours per week to qualify for the benefits that Starbucks likes to brag about. Because of her irregular working hours, Fluhr doesn't know whether she will qualify permanently. Their second demand is higher income because many are struggling to pay their bills. Too many Starbucks partners rely on SNAP and Medicaid. Many more cannot afford everyday things like rent, groceries and healthcare costs. The final demand is that the company address the hundreds of unresolved unfair labor practice (ULP) charges. These include numerous cases in which administrative law judges or the National Labor Relations Board found that Starbucks violated labor laws. Additionally, our union has filed dozens of new ULP complaints since Niccol became CEO, indicating that Starbucks is returning to a pattern of disregard for labor law and union rights. (…) Starbucks Workers United baristas have won union elections in more than 640 stores and counting, inspiring people around the world. Hundreds of baristas join our union every month. These baristas are full of hope and good ideas to improve the business. But even though Starbucks calls them “partners,” that’s an empty word if they don’t have the support they need to perform the basic functions of their jobs. And it's an empty word if Starbucks executives don't listen to their needs and ideas for improving their workplaces.(…) We initiated arbitration in February 2025 and Starbucks submitted a package that contained only minor improvements. The nearly 500 barista negotiating delegates overwhelmingly rejected this offer in April. Looking back, I believe the company used the arbitration as a cover to appease and buy time to get through the earnings reports. (…) Meanwhile, the company is on a massive spending spree. Niccol received a salary of $96 million for 120 days of work last year, putting him at the top of a new list of American CEOs making 6,666 times the salary of a typical barista. They have rented and equipped a satellite office in Newport Beach and are paying a pilot in a private jet $360,000 a year, plus benefits, so Niccol can commute to Seattle. The managers' conference in Las Vegas, at which Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe appeared, cost $81 million and of course reduced their profits (…) Now what? To turn things around, the coffee giant must make peace with unionized baristas and take significant steps to improve their jobs. When that happens, we can all work together to Get Back to Starbucks. But for now the choice is simple: secure fair contracts for baristas, or we’ll see you on the picket line.” English Interview by Lynne Fox from 15.September 2025 in In These Times with SBWU President Lynne Fox calling for a strike (machine translated) Demand Starbucks CEO Niccol cut his salary instead of closing stores now! " A recent report from the Institute for Policy Studies reveals a significant pay gap at Starbucks. In 2024, CEO Brian Niccol's total compensation was $95.8 million, while the company's average barista earned $14,674. This results in a pay ratio of 6,666 to 1, the largest CEO-to-employee gap among S&P 500 companies. In fact, Niccol was the fourth-highest-paid CEO, while the average Starbucks employee earned less than their counterparts at all but two companies. Now it's using accounting tricks to create the impression of financial distress to justify closing stores and illegally firing union workers. That's right, Starbucks just announced a $1 billion restructuring and will close 59 unionized stores - nearly 10% of unionized locations Also the Roastery in Seattle, one of the company's busiest stores. The baristas at Starbucks make almost $1,000 below the federal poverty level for an individual, while the CEO makes almost $100 million a year, and when you break it down, he makes about $50,000 more per hour than the average Starbucks employee.Just last June, Starbucks spent over $80 million on a glitzy executive-only conference in Las Vegas. This is not an attempt to save Starbucks from financial disaster. It's an attempt to bust the union and make customers believe this is justified. We have to make sure they know they can't fool anyone. Starbucks needs to know that we are paying attention and standing with workers against this corporate greed.” English Petition from More Perfect Union from September 2025 with video (machine translated) The day of the shareholders' meeting on March 12th is also a day of action at Starbucks USA with more than 100 events, many occupations - and some arrests See some of the many (machine translated) reports from March 11th. from Starbucks Workers United on bluesky (nothing found in the press yet): Tomorrow is shareholder day for $SBUX. Union allies are hosting more than 100 “union solidarity sip-in” events to send a clear message to shareholders: STARBUCKS – IT’S TIME TO LISTEN TO YOUR WORKERS. We won't give in until you invest in US, the baristas who keep our stores running, with fair contracts! We need better staffing, fair wages and stronger protections. Enough is enough, Starbucks baristas have started a strike and, together with allies and former employees, are occupying the entrance areas of several branches. We didn't want it to come to this. But if participating in civil disobedience is the only way $SBUX will listen, then so be it.CONTRACTS NOW! Starbucks workers across the country are joining in a strong show of solidarity today. Civil disobedience, strikes, solidarity actions and more are taking place at $SBUX locations across the country. Do you hear us yet, @Starbucks? IT'S TIME TO FINISH THE CONTRACTS NOW. Baristas in Chicago are following the example of workers in Pittsburgh - they are also going on STRIKE! People are currently occupying the interior of the Clark & ​​Ridge store. And we will keep going until $SBUX gets the message that we need fair union contracts NOW. Police continue to be deployed to stop Starbucks workers and allies demanding fair contracts with workers. Now the participants in actions in Chicago are being arrested and taken away by the police. Shame on Starbucks: NO CONTRACT, NO COFFEE! #ToBeAPartner Police were called to current and former Starbucks employees in Pittsburgh. Employees at this branch went on strike demanding fair contracts - and now some of them are being arrested. Shame on Starbucks for allowing it to come to this. UPDATE: Seattle workers have joined the strike! Look at this crowd, Starbucks. These are YOUR customers who are ready to see you do the right thing and secure union contracts. We're willing to do whatever it takes to get you to listen.In the Starbucks strikes in the USA before Christmas, over 5,000 baristas closed more than 300 branches - Starbucks Workers United also wins in court " More than 300 Starbucks branches and 5,000 BARISTAS are on strike today for unfair labor practices! This is the largest ULP strike in Starbucks history. NO CONTRACT NO COFFEE " eng. Starbucks Workers United tweet from Dec. 24, 2024 with video Starbucks strikes expanded to three more cities "In other labor news: The Starbucks strike has expanded to stores in Boston, Dallas and Portland, Oregon. As of Monday afternoon, the Starbucks strike had closed 59 stores nationwide. Naomi Martinez is a striking Starbucks employee in Burbank, California..." English. Interview from December 24th 2024 in Democracy Now! "These strikes against unfair labor practices are a first show of strength, and we are just getting started. We will keep fighting until Starbucks makes us a serious economic offer. Starbucks should know: This is just the beginning." English Starbucks Workers United tweet Dec. 25, 2024 with video Court rejects Starbucks' challenge to U.S. labor regulator, rules barista firing was unlawful " A federal appeals court has largely rejected Starbucks' appeal of the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) finding that the coffee chain unlawfully fired two Philadelphia baristas because they wanted to form a union.The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the coffeehouse giant had no standing to challenge the constitutionality of the administrative law judges of the NLRB, the government agency responsible for enforcing U.S. labor laws governing labor practices and collective bargaining. .." English Reuters report from December 28th, 2024 in The Guardian (machine translated) Starbucks has broken the promise to negotiate and will be on strike in Seattle, LA, Chicago and NY from December 20th until Christmas Eve... Solidarity campaign for the SBWU strike before Christmas "From Friday, December 20th, Starbucks Workers United baristas will be in three of the most important Starbucks markets until Christmas Eve in one All-out strike: Seattle, LA and Chicago. Baristas make the bold decision to strike as Starbucks backs down. We are protesting Starbucks' failure to bring viable economic proposals to the bargaining table and resolve hundreds of outstanding unfair labor practice charges. The striking baristas are asking allies to join us by holding small leaflet drives in You only need 1-3 people per event at non-union stores in your area - so if your group typically includes more people, we would love for you to volunteer to cover multiple stores so we can cover more locations...” Solidarity information from Starbucks Workers United and ask for a boycott IT'S THE STRIKE BEFORE CHRISTMAS! 20.-24.12."Starbucks baristas will stage five days of ULP strikes to respond to the company's backtracking on our promised path forward, starting tomorrow in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle... and soon from coast to coast. Since February, Starbucks has repeatedly publicly pledged to reach deals by the end of the year - but a serious economic offer to workers has yet to be made. This week, with less than two weeks to go before the one-year deadline, Starbucks proposed increasing the wages of unionized baristas “Our Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) strikes will begin on Friday morning and extend every day until Christmas Eve... unless Starbucks meets our commitment to work towards a basic framework. Support us by signing up for our solidarity campaign and holding an event with us in non-union stores between December 20th and 24th. English Post from Starbucks Workers United from December 21st. on bsky " Farm workers support Starbucks baristas are ON STRIKE!! #SolidaritySeason " engl. Tweet from United Farm Workers from December 21st. mi Photo See #NoContractNoCoffee and photos/videos on the Bluesky accounts of Starbucks Workers United and California Fast Food Workers Union [After the agreement to begin contract negotiations] Seven lessons from the historic victory of Starbucks workers “ The entire union movement should wake up and take careful note of the lessons of the victory of Starbucks workers this week.The only thing more difficult than winning a union election against a megacorporation is signing an initial contract. So it's not surprising that many skeptics claimed that Starbucks workers couldn't muster enough power to force management to the bargaining table. Luckily, Starbucks baristas and organizers ignored their critics. And this week it paid off. Although details have not yet been announced, an agreement to begin serious negotiations on an initial contract was announced in a joint statement from management and the union on Tuesday. Skepticism is warranted given that the company has waged a scorched-earth union-busting campaign over the past two and a half years. But this agreement appears to be a white flag from Starbucks because it requires the company to stop unlawfully denying unionized workers equal benefits and credit card tips. It's hard to imagine why Starbucks would give up its most potent union-busting weapon if it didn't actually plan to negotiate in good faith. While the fight is far from over — organizing work will need to increase to unionize thousands of stores and keep bosses from backing down — all signs point to a simple, if hard-to-believe, conclusion: Starbucks workers will win a first contract.Not only have they taken on and defeated one of the world's largest corporations, they have also inspired a grassroots labor movement that could shake up some of the pillars of America's political economy—especially if other workers follow suit and mainstream unions finally rise to the occasion. In hopes of helping make that possibility a reality, here are seven key lessons from what may be the most important victory for U.S. unions since the 1930s. 1) Worker-to-worker unionism is a big winner. (…) 2) Train and network employees digitally. (…) 3) Salting works (…) 4) Seize the moment (…) 5) State policy matters (…) 6) The union needs resources to win (…) 7) Public opinion and pressure are crucial (…) The ultimate significance of the victory will depend on what happens at Starbucks and beyond in the coming months. We urgently need workers in all industries and regions to unionize today - the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee has a form for anyone who needs help getting started. And we need as many local and national unions as possible working to organize the unorganized now. History will not look kindly on union leaders who missed the best opportunity for union organizing in generations.Any massive investment in union organizing would be welcome, but for it to be as effective as possible, unions should do their best to reiterate the key lessons of the SBWU's worker-to-worker campaigns. Starbucks workers did the impossible. Now it’s everyone else’s turn.” English Article by Eric Blanc from February 29, 2024 in Jacobin (machine translated), see background: Workers United and Starbucks agree on the way forward " Workers United and Starbucks agree that they want to build a productive relationship in the best interests of the Starbucks partners. During last week's arbitration discussions regarding the ongoing legal disputes relating to the trademark and intellectual property, a constructive path regarding the future of organizing work and collective bargaining at Starbucks emerged. Um To build on this path, Workers United and Starbucks have agreed to begin discussions on a basic framework to achieve collective bargaining agreements for the represented stores and partners, the resolution of legal disputes between the union and the company, including trademark disputes, and a fair process for workers to organize. As a gesture of goodwill, Starbucks has agreed to provide the workers represented by Workers United with the gratuities and credit card benefits announced by the company for May 2022.While there is still much work to be done, the joint development of this framework is a significant step forward and a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to collaboration and mutual respect.” English Press release dated 2/27/2024 from Starbucks Workers United (machine translated) Starbucks must reopen 23 stores in the US with all the consequences that were closed to stop union efforts, its bargaining offer is hard to trust... Starbucks must reopen 23 stores that were closed to stop union efforts "This lawsuit is the latest confirmation of Starbucks' determination to illegally fight unionization of its employees," said one unionized employee. The closure of at least 23 Starbucks stores amid a nationwide campaign for workers' rights last year did not go unnoticed by federal authorities, who on Wednesday ordered the global coffee chain to reopen the stores. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint saying that eight of the closed stores are among the more than 360 Starbucks stores that voted to unionize, and that management failed to provide timely notice to the Starbucks Workers United union of the closures, depriving organizers of the opportunity to negotiate the decision.The agency ordered Starbucks to reopen stores in cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle and Portland, Maine, and to rehire the laid-off employees, pay them lost wages and benefits, and negotiate with unions at the stores that have organized. If the company fails to comply with the order, an administrative law judge will hear the case next summer, The New York Times reports. (…) Also on Wednesday, Starbucks released a shareholder-requested report from independent consultant Thomas Mackall, who analyzed the $111 billion company's labor practices. Mackall concluded that Starbucks executives who responded to nationwide union pressure may have violated the company's global human rights statement, which states that the company respects employees' rights to participate in collective bargaining. The NLRB's latest action against Starbucks was welcomed Thursday by the AFL-CIO, which said the coffee giant's executives "thought they could mess with workers' rights." “This complaint is the latest confirmation of Starbucks' determination to illegally oppose worker organizing,” Mari Cosgrove, a Starbucks Workers United member who works at a Seattle store, said Wednesday. “It adds to the litany of complaints detailed in the company’s report released this morning.If Starbucks has sincerely tried to build a different relationship with its partners in recent days, then this is exactly the kind of illegal behavior it needs to end." English Article by Julia Conley from December 15, 2023 in Common Dreams (machine translated) Starbucks says it wants to negotiate. His behavior suggests otherwise. Starbucks' Offer to Restart Contract Negotiations Contains Some Serious Fine Print Starbucks received a lot of positive press when it told its employees' union that it wanted to restart contract talks. The move was a much-needed PR boost for a company whose recent battles with the union have generated bad press and contributed to falling stock prices. A senior Starbucks official wrote to the union's president on Friday, saying the company wanted to end the deadlock caused by the coffee chain's refusal to hold bargaining sessions for more than six months. Because of this refusal, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has repeatedly accused Starbucks of failing to negotiate in good faith. But Starbucks' Friday letter contains an important caveat that raises questions about whether the company is truly serious about returning to the negotiating table. In that letter, Starbucks continued to reject the idea of ​​hybrid negotiations - the reason it repeatedly stalled negotiations over many months. Sara Kelly, Starbucks' vice president and chief partner officer, insisted in the letter that the negotiations will be conducted "without video or audio broadcasts."In other words, Starbucks' message is: "We say we want to reopen negotiations, but we will only do so if the union gives in to us on this important issue of hybrid bargaining." This does not appear to be a conducive way to restart contract talks. (…) The union complains that Starbucks' refusal to engage in hybrid collective bargaining represents another obstacle that the company has put in place to delay the conclusion of an initial contract. The first Starbucks stores unionized in Buffalo two years ago, but not a single one of the more than 360 unionized stores in the U.S. has signed an initial contract. Starbucks has angered the union by insisting that individual contracts be negotiated for each of its more than 360 unionized stores, meaning it insists on more than 360 rounds of bargaining. Participating in more than 360 separate negotiations would be long, arduous and expensive for the union - in fact, the union claims that Starbucks is insisting on it to drag things out. The union has been reluctant to agree to these store-by-store negotiations, but to speed and simplify things, it would prefer to negotiate an overall nationwide contract that could include some variations - perhaps higher wages at Starbucks stores in more expensive cities, or provisions requiring increased security and safety training at some locations.The union wants some of its key negotiators to participate in all or most negotiations for the more than 360 stores so that they can help ensure key provisions are incorporated into each store's contracts. But this amount of travel would be strenuous, expensive and almost impossible for any individual to personally manage. That's one reason the union is insisting on hybrid bargaining - so some key negotiators can attend meetings without flying across the country. In rejecting hybrid negotiations, Starbucks has expressed concern that some baristas might record the sessions and use the recordings to embarrass the company on TikTok or other social media. According to union officials, no union members have recorded the bargaining sessions or intend to do so. (…) Compounding the bad press for Starbucks, students at Georgetown University, UCLA, and several other universities—angry over Starbucks' union busting, firing of pro-union baristas, and delays in finalizing an initial contract—are trying to follow Cornell University's lead and drive Starbucks off their campus. (…) In her response to Starbucks' letter, Lynne Fox, the president of Workers United, the parent company of Starbucks Workers United, said: “We are reviewing the letter...We have never said no to a meeting with Starbucks.Anything that advances the negotiations in a positive way is most welcome.” Meanwhile, the union is calling for a boycott of Starbucks gift cards to protest the company's "reckless crackdown on unions." It's unclear whether Starbucks is just posturing and doing public relations, or whether the company is serious about resuming talks and moving forward with negotiations to reach an initial contract. But if Starbucks is not honest, then the company will certainly face even more public pressure, bad press, operational problems and falling stock prices as a result of more protests, more strikes and spontaneous calls for a nationwide boycott.” English Article by Steven Greenhouse from December 12, 2023 in In These Times ("Starbucks' Offer to Resume Contract Talks Comes with Some Serious Fine Print", machine translated) See for the latest Starbucks Workers United on Twitter #RedCupRebellion 2023 - English. Call for nationwide protests on November 16th from and at Starbucks Workers United Tell Starbucks: Stop anti-union and negotiate a fair contract! "In August 2021, some Starbucks employees in Buffalo formed Starbucks Workers United. The union has now organized more than 350 stores and represents over 5,000 workers. But Starbucks has refused to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith with these workers.More Perfect Union has just learned that a right-wing group funded by a billionaire is doing Starbucks' dirty work and trying to dismantle the union from within with a so-called decertification campaign. One year after a union election is certified, the National Labor Relations Board begins accepting union deaffiliation applications. This is supposed to give workers and companies a year to negotiate in good faith, but instead it gives companies a playbook: delay negotiations for a year, then work with a shady anti-union group to discredit the union by pointing out the lack of negotiations. Who is this shady right-wing group? It's called the National Right To Work Foundation, a dark-money group dedicated to convincing workers to abandon their unions. It is financed by a who’s who of plutocrats: the Koch and Walton families, Dick Uihlein and Rebekah Mercer. The foundation has an annual budget of $10 million to break solidarity. The NLRB has already rejected decertification efforts on the grounds that Starbucks refuses to negotiate. But with 350 stores already voting for the union, more are on the way. This is all a stalling tactic. The workers have made themselves clear and the law is clear. It's time for Starbucks to sit down at the negotiating table and sign a fair contract..."Info, video and petition from More Perfect Union ("Tell Starbucks: Stop union-busting and negotiate a fair contract!", machine translated), see also: Will Starbucks' union busting prevent a rebirth of unions in the USA? / Will Starbucks’ Union-Busting Stifle a Union Rebirth in the US? Steven Greenhouse on August 28, 2023 in the Guardian, documented at Portside Starbucks Workers United successful with innovative union actions: After the summer bus tour “the union is calling”, now customer organizing with “Costomers join the Fight” action days Customer action: Customers/allies: sign up to help plan our next action day! " Since December 2021, more than 8,500 Starbucks workers have organized at more than 340 stores, calling on Starbucks to uphold the forward-looking values the company claims to stand for - respecting workers' fundamental right to unionize and negotiating a fair contract with their employees. Despite the power workers have built and despite our eagerness to engage with the company, Starbucks continues to use every conceivable tactic to undermine the efforts of the workers Employees to hinder improvements in our workplace. Now is the time for Starbucks customers and allies to join the fight. On August 7, more than 1,000 customers and allies held leaflet campaigns at 332 Starbucks stores nationwide to share with other customers about the company's mistreatment of workers.Starbucks Workers United action page for more information, see also: "Today is the big day - our first-ever customer and ally-led day of action! Across the country, customers are learning about Starbucks' illegal anti-union campaign - including the company's hundreds of labor violations - in hundreds of stores across the country. #StarbucksSolidarity We asked our allies to hold events, engage directly with their communities outside of their local Starbucks stores, and stand in solidarity with Starbucks partners. The public deserves to know what really goes into making their daily sip…” Thread Starbucks Workers United from Aug. 7, 2023 " 332 stores. 32 states. Over 1,000 customers join the fight. YOU made our first national day of action a huge success - THANK YOU to everyone who came out yesterday to stand up to Starbucks' hundreds of labor violations and illegal union-busting campaign! You thought this was just a one-day event? NOpe! We'll have many more days of action starting this fall - and we want you to be involved in planning the next steps...” Thread from Starbucks Workers United from August 9, 2023 with photos Summer bus tour "the union is calling" "We will report live here from every stop on the tour, with reports from Starbucks employees on the bus! From Atlanta to Seattle you can experience the tour with us! ..." The English.Starbucks Workers United campaign page with more information and reports/videos in the blog, see also: "We're on our way! Union partners from around the country are going on a nationwide bus tour to let Starbucks know it's time for a contract! #nocontractnocoffee..." English. Starbucks Workers United thread from July 10, 2023 with video #StrikeWithPride in Pride Month: 150 Starbucks stores are on strike across the US for a week starting June 24, 2023 The weekend is done, there's still the work week left "WHAT A DAY A huge thank you to everyone who supported us on the picket line or pledged their support on social media. We haven't yet We’re halfway through our #StrikeWithPride week! More stores will join our solidarity in the coming days!” Tweet from SB Workers United Seattle June 26, 2023 Call for Strike Breaking and Solidarity from the Book Workers Union and PAME of Greece "Imagine standing in line for over 90 minutes for a coffee made by managers and scabs while the @sbworkersunited baristas ask you to support us by not crossing the picket line. All you have to do is leave! #Solidarity #strikewithpride" Tweet from SB Workers United Seattle on June 24, 2023 "Avoid the picket line! Don't be a scab! Don't buy Starbucks coffee while workers are on strike! There are several coffee shops less than a minute from the roastery, this is Seattle." Tweet from Book Workers Union on June 25, 2023 “Pinkerton security against #strikers It's not the 19th.Century… workers have rights! From Greece, solidarity with the #Starbucks workers on the #strike…” PAME Greece International from June 25, 2023 (English) Call to fill the strike fund for the strike ““Be gay and organize!” @SeattleSBWU Seattle Roastery workers begin the night shift with a strike to show solidarity with their queer colleagues across the country! Don't cross the picket line this weekend and donate to the Solidarity Fund" Tweet from Starbucks Workers Solidarity from June 25, 2023 with link to crowdfunding for the strike More information at #StrikeWithPride Despite lawsuit and embarrassing Senate hearing over union busting: Starbucks fires Alexis Rizzo, who started the union wave in the company: "This is retaliation at its worst" Starbucks has Alexis Rizzo "Starbucks has fired Alexis Rizzo, the employee who launched the Starbucks Workers United union campaign, CNBC confirms. Rizzo was a shift manager at Starbucks for seven years and managed the Genesee St. store in Buffalo, New York, which was one of the first two stores in the country to win its union campaign. Starbucks Workers United announced Rizzo's firing in a tweet on Saturday and said in a statement GoFundMe page said this was “retaliation at its worst.” "I'm heartbroken. It wasn't just a job for me. It was like my family," Rizzo said in an interview with CNBC. "It was like I had lost everything. I had been there since I was 17 years old.It’s like my whole support system, and I think they knew that.” Rizzo said her store managers fired her after her shift ended Friday. She said they told her she was late four times - on two occasions she was a minute late. Rizzo suspects her firing stems from Wednesday's Senate hearing, she said...” Article by Ashley Capoot from April 1, 2023 at CNBC (“Starbucks fired the employee responsible for igniting the Starbucks Workers United union campaign”). "Two days after CEO Howard Schultz testified before the U.S. Senate about Starbucks' illegal anti-union campaign, Starbucks fired Lexi Rizzo, a 7-year shift manager and the person who first started this campaign and sparked a movement. Lexi's store is on strike this morning. Go out and show your support!" Thread from Starbucks Workers United from April 1, 2023 - see the mentioned statement before the Senate: What unionized Starbucks workers think of Howard Schultz's statement to Bernie Sanders "Former Starbucks boss Howard Schultz was questioned in front of a congressional committee this week about alleged anti-union sentiment. You don't usually see something like that in Washington. The latest round in the fight between Starbucks and the emerging barista network Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) came to a head on Wednesday with the appearance of former CEO and current board member Howard Schultz before the Senate Committee on Housing, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)."It was really hard not to laugh out loud at some of his lies," said James Greene, a fired Starbucks shift manager in the Pittsburgh area. “He repeatedly denied breaking the law while the Seninside the judgments of several judgesinside against [Starbucks]," Greene continued. The Democratic senatorInside, Schultz took turns calling for him to stick to his own progressive values ​​and the law, while Republicanslargely thanked him for his role as a billionaire businessman. But if viewers were expecting a questioning from the senators that would reveal new details about Starbucks' anti-union efforts, they instead saw a rather mediocre intervention that was successfully dismissed by Schultz. For example, little attention has been paid to the fact that, in addition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), federal courts have also found that workers' claims of retaliation are legitimate. So senior Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and other Schultz supporters were able to muddy the waters with claims of NLRB bias. (…) For example, in response to questions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committee chairman, Schultz denied knowing about or being involved in decisions to fire or discipline workers who participated in union campaigns. If he admitted facts such as: For example, in an incident in which he recommended that a pro-union worker look for another job, he interpreted these events as exonerating himself and the company of wrongdoing. (…) The hearing came after months of pressure from baristas and their allies, including Sanders. In the first phase of the campaign in 2022, the victory in the first Buffalo store over anti-union tactics that an administrative law judge called “egregious and widespread” led to an exponential increase in stores filing for unions across the country.In the second phase, Starbucks fought back by instituting selective benefits and pay raises for non-union stores, closing some unionized or anti-union stores, firing union organizers, increasing disciplinary measures against union workers, and using other tactics. In this way, the company managed to reach the number