Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Thinking about Unions (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Askandanswerquestion
This is kind of a big, company-wide thought. Should we all be unionizing? Like, across America. I feel like now would be a pretty good time to address a lot of labor issues in the company (and America at large). There are things in the news that I've seen that make me think we've reached a "new low" when it comes to the treatment of "unskilled labor".
I guess this also comes to me. I am not super committed to Starbucks (it's a second job to make a bit of extra income, not my primary) and I'm super new (320*****). That puts me in a weird position where I both feel like I'm not the right person to talk about it, but since I have nothing to lose, I would be willing to "take the lead" and any negative reprecutions that might come with it.
What are your thoughts on Unions. Why have you chosen not to attempt to unionize? Is this a conversation we need to be having?
I guess this also comes to me. I am not super committed to Starbucks (it's a second job to make a bit of extra income, not my primary) and I'm super new (320*****). That puts me in a weird position where I both feel like I'm not the right person to talk about it, but since I have nothing to lose, I would be willing to "take the lead" and any negative reprecutions that might come with it.
What are your thoughts on Unions. Why have you chosen not to attempt to unionize? Is this a conversation we need to be having?
thefoolwitch 24 points 1y ago
tbqh I fully support unions and worker’s rights, etc, but… I am not willing to lose my job right now for multiple reasons (money, Starbucks specifically offering trans healthcare, a comparatively trans-friendly workplace, etc). So I’m not exactly jumping at the chance to risk it in any way. :/
Askandanswerquestion [OP] 4 points 1y ago
That's fair. Totally get it. I'm curious, have you looked into other jobs? I get that the trans-related issues may be hard to find elsewhere, but financially, it might be a worthwhile tradeoff? I know several baristas at my store have/are looking to move to other jobs, and the pay they are finding is significantly better.
This doesn't really address the Union thing at all, but I know how much financial security impacts one's mental health.
This doesn't really address the Union thing at all, but I know how much financial security impacts one's mental health.
thefoolwitch 5 points 1y ago
I do eventually plan on moving on into publishing, but, uh, the pay isn’t going to be much better in that field, ahaha. 😅 I have resigned myself to not making a ton of money most likely, so the trans-related issues are super important to me (as I’m very early in my transition and even having problems getting my partners at Starbucks to gender me correctly)—I also live in a conservative + rural area in Ohio, so that doesn’t help my prospects, and I’m honestly scared to apply to places that *don’t* explicitly welcome trans employees because of how little I pass right now.
You’re very right that Starbucks needs to up their game though. The fact that they offer so many benefits is cool and all, but… it doesn’t substitute for pay, plain and simple. We can’t pay rent with Spotify premium.
You’re very right that Starbucks needs to up their game though. The fact that they offer so many benefits is cool and all, but… it doesn’t substitute for pay, plain and simple. We can’t pay rent with Spotify premium.
Askandanswerquestion [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Haha! I mean, I'm kind of in the same boat, working at Starbucks to support my "dream job", just at a slightly different stage in the game (not as broke as I used to be, but would love to get out of my parents house).
That all makes sense.
Haha! If only you could pay the electric bill with a spotify account and the promise of an employee-matched retirement fund.
That all makes sense.
Haha! If only you could pay the electric bill with a spotify account and the promise of an employee-matched retirement fund.
iWantToBeARealBoy 2 points 1y ago
Check if your state has one-party-consent laws for recording conversations and *if* you do start to organize, always record conversations with management (if your state allows it). Even with at-will employers, it’s illegal to fire you for trying to unionize. Also another reason to stand together as a store. If they fire multiple people who were trying to unionize and don’t give a reason, you could probably get the NLRB to start an investigation.
be_wilder_everyday 19 points 1y ago
The Starbucks man, IMO, is doing a good job squashing Union forming efforts in Buffalo. Nobody else at my store had even heard about the news. I want baristas to rise up and take on the challenge for ourselves and others bit right now the energy doesnt seem to be big enough.
MAYBE if Buffalo gets their way things will ripple outward and cause a fundamental shift, though that didnt happen after the first Starbucks union formed in Canada.
Other than gripes over the new food/drink benefit changes, low pay after years of work and anger towards the obsession with times, sadly, I just dont think enough baristas are mad enough to get it done.
MAYBE if Buffalo gets their way things will ripple outward and cause a fundamental shift, though that didnt happen after the first Starbucks union formed in Canada.
Other than gripes over the new food/drink benefit changes, low pay after years of work and anger towards the obsession with times, sadly, I just dont think enough baristas are mad enough to get it done.
[deleted] 16 points 1y ago
[deleted]
Lipglossandletdown 17 points 1y ago
To make unionizing easier, we need to get the PRO ACT passed.
* The PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act:
prohibits employers from permanently replacing striking employees
protects strikes and other protest activities
require that employers continue to bargain
hold corporations accountable for "union busting" activities.
The PRO Act passed the House earlier in the year, but is held up in the
Senate. Some provisions may be able to be passed using reconciliation,
but we can ask our US Senators to support workers and the PRO Act. The
AFL-CIO has an easy form to use; you enter your name and address, it
locates your Senators and provides a template you can edit to send.
$1
​
On top of this, **please vote!** Every vote does count and make a difference and the perfect example of this is that when John Fetterman ran for mayor of Braddock for the first time, he won by one singular vote. What would have happened if 2 people hadn't turned out for him that year? Maybe PA wouldn't have him as our Lt. Governor, and maybe he wouldn't be running for Senate next year. We need to elect pro-worker, pro-Union Senators and Representatives next year - anyone from any state can register to vote at https://whenweallvote.org/
* The PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act:
prohibits employers from permanently replacing striking employees
protects strikes and other protest activities
require that employers continue to bargain
hold corporations accountable for "union busting" activities.
The PRO Act passed the House earlier in the year, but is held up in the
Senate. Some provisions may be able to be passed using reconciliation,
but we can ask our US Senators to support workers and the PRO Act. The
AFL-CIO has an easy form to use; you enter your name and address, it
locates your Senators and provides a template you can edit to send.
$1
​
On top of this, **please vote!** Every vote does count and make a difference and the perfect example of this is that when John Fetterman ran for mayor of Braddock for the first time, he won by one singular vote. What would have happened if 2 people hadn't turned out for him that year? Maybe PA wouldn't have him as our Lt. Governor, and maybe he wouldn't be running for Senate next year. We need to elect pro-worker, pro-Union Senators and Representatives next year - anyone from any state can register to vote at https://whenweallvote.org/
shortimmortality 3 points 1y ago
👏👏👏 Yes!
sofso 13 points 1y ago
I love unions. I'd love to join a unionizing effort, but I wish there was a way to get more workers to see the benefits as well. Otherwise it seems destined to fail :(
Ok-Bowl4392 10 points 1y ago
Fear of being fired. While you may be willing to take all the heat you aren’t the only person the company would come after. Every barista in every store would need to want this, many probably do, and we would all need to communicate by district secretly to get it in the works. It would take years of planning, maybe, or a strike of every worker until a union was formed.
Askandanswerquestion [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Good point. I didn't even think about the risks it puts on my coworkers.
metrokid_98 1 points 1y ago
Legally employers can’t fire you for unionizing. As it stands right now though if you strike or walk out or if unionizing fails then you’re at risk of termination. If stores are short staffed then most likely they won’t fire you. It’s a gamble though for sure.
TheFriendlyFeminist 6 points 1y ago
r/unionizestarbucks
S0NofThunder176 6 points 1y ago
they literally can't afford to fire us all, so they have to listen to us. but we would all need to band togetehr to do so.
ellsb3lls 3 points 1y ago
yeah. it would take a nation-wide effort to make some real changes. don’t know if that’s even possible though.
dipak2021 1 points 1y ago
Newly arrived immigrants will be more than happy to take the jobs at Starbucks. Suck it up buttercup!!
Askandanswerquestion [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not, but since I've heard people make this argument seriously before, I'll address it as such.
I have done my research about immigrants. Many immigrants that come to America are fleeing threat of death, starvation, gang violence, and other horrific things. As such, they'll do anything to get out. Many have been trapped in slave-like arrangements in order to get themselves and their familis out of dangerous situations. (I am willing to share my research if you're interested).
Just because something is better than their previous life does not make it good. I wouldn't want an immigrant family struggling to make ends meet at starbucks, barely scrapping by because it's their ticket to the American dream but grateful it's more than nothing.
To be clear, Starbucks isn't nearly as bad as it could be, but that doesn't mean we can't, or shouldn't, fight to make it better.
I have done my research about immigrants. Many immigrants that come to America are fleeing threat of death, starvation, gang violence, and other horrific things. As such, they'll do anything to get out. Many have been trapped in slave-like arrangements in order to get themselves and their familis out of dangerous situations. (I am willing to share my research if you're interested).
Just because something is better than their previous life does not make it good. I wouldn't want an immigrant family struggling to make ends meet at starbucks, barely scrapping by because it's their ticket to the American dream but grateful it's more than nothing.
To be clear, Starbucks isn't nearly as bad as it could be, but that doesn't mean we can't, or shouldn't, fight to make it better.
kell0313 -4 points 1y ago
Genuine question, what do you think unions would actually provide that Starbucks won’t? Aside from
just pay.
just pay.
ceilw99 11 points 1y ago
Unions give you a seat at the table. They work for YOU, not the company. Right now, we don't have any negotiating power, so we're on the menu.
kell0313 -4 points 1y ago
Right… But I guess my question is what exactly would you be wanting to negotiate, again aside from pay. We have better benefits than most companies, retail or not. My boyfriend was part of a union at Kroger and they did absolutely nothing, he just had to pay into it. Still would only get one 15 minute break for an 8-hour shift, still didn’t get any benefits. I just am curious what we’d be negotiating for that Starbucks isn’t providing
zzid2d21 11 points 1y ago
I was a Union Rep in my former job. Here's a short list of things that Unions can represent for you other than pay: Schedules- including fair coverage, fair allocation of hours, time off, when and how long in advance time off can be requested. Representation during discipline, up to and including termination, break policy, paid lunch, EEOC complaints, OWCP representation, negotiation of pay for things other than Federal Holidays ie shift differentials, (I'm pulling this out of my head I know there's more) but the biggest thing is a fair grievance procedure. Again, that is after you get a Union in place and have a negotiated contract.
And to whomever said "they can't fire us all"? Yes they can. And have. PATCO Aug 3, 1981. It was the beginning of the end of the middle class in America and the rise of the 1%.
And to whomever said "they can't fire us all"? Yes they can. And have. PATCO Aug 3, 1981. It was the beginning of the end of the middle class in America and the rise of the 1%.
StormTheParade 4 points 1y ago
Stronger job security should something need to be reported - many SMs have taken to retaliating against employees who "complain too much" by outright firing them or limiting their hours until they're forced to quit or comply.
They can also help with PTO and sick time issues, help provide a standard of operation, and provide a solid resource to contact when certain issues arise that DMs are either ignoring or even playing into. HR is there for the company, not for the employee, whereas a union is there to represent and support the employee.
They can also help with PTO and sick time issues, help provide a standard of operation, and provide a solid resource to contact when certain issues arise that DMs are either ignoring or even playing into. HR is there for the company, not for the employee, whereas a union is there to represent and support the employee.
iWantToBeARealBoy 3 points 1y ago
Kroger has a notoriously terrible union. Not the best example to use to form your opinion, honestly.
kell0313 2 points 1y ago
That’s why I was genuinely asking. I guess I’ve just been lucky to have had great managers for the past 8 years, because I’ve never felt like I’ve had a problem (other than pay) that they couldn’t/wouldn’t help me with. My only experience with unions was what my partner went through at Kroger, which just seemed pointless. If you have a shitty SM/DM I could see why unions might feel important I’ve just never personally felt like that.
[deleted] -2 points 1y ago
[deleted]
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