I think it’s nigh time we all start bringing up the discussion about Buffalo and a company wide union in general. We have all seen the staffing issues and despite the wage increase, the lack of adequate pay.

Especially with all of the large strikes taking place, and the supposed “labor shortage” (aka wage shortage), we know for a fact that workers have the power right now. Even just in passing conversation with the baristas, I think getting the ball rolling on the discussion is what we need to really show solidarity and support to our Buffalo partners.

Some of you may be in Right-to-Work states, yes, but but the baristas in New York aren’t any different from us. We are all Partners that serve the same 4,952 frappucinos a day with 1 closer and angry antimask Karens.

All it takes is for us to start talking about it. If you really wanna take it a step further, contact Workers United or your local union organizers for more information.
We know that union workers statistically make more and are treated better than non union, and the typical union dues talking point is taken out of context. $300-$500 a year isn’t anything when compared to the extra $6,000/yr we would make if our hourly was raised more. The benefits of a union are numerically better, despite all of the coporate horse speak of the contrary. Numbers don’t lie. A union is a way for us to voice our concerns at a partner-wide level on behalf of ourselves as a collective, as opposed to individually where we are typically shot down for having the audacity to pipedream of a Cold Bar barista during Peak.

Starbucks has been around 50 years. They know the conditions are bad. They’ve had time to address them. If they wanted them to be better, they already would be. Don’t buy into their bull. Yes, they’re comparatively better than most companies. It’s a VERY low bar out there, so that’s not difficult lol.

We don’t need to quit, we need to fight for better working conditions. I don’t know about you guys, but I genuinely enjoy being a barista despite the occasional if not frequent chaos. And I love all of my fellow Partners. We all owe it to each other to demand that we be treated as humans instead of spreadsheets for Peak Out-the-Window times and multimillion dollar CEO bonuses.