Starbucks literally released a whole new dress code with an entire paragraph warning that it didn’t apply to unionized stores. They also didn’t get the raise to $15/3% raise if they already made $15 that we all got in August. They’re not even trying to hide it and will eventually lose in court but it’s not stopping them. And as of yet the union hasn’t amassed enough power to do anything right away, but they’re sure proving why we need it real loudly.

starbucks is def trying to union bust. normal sbux just got pay raises last month and an updated, more lenient dress code this month and union stores don’t get either of those own things solely bc they’re unions.

Starbucks is doing a ton of illegal union busting crap. They will lose eventually, but not before they spend many millions of dollars attempting to keep everyone from having the fair option to form and join a union.

To my knowledge, no store has progressed to the point of having a functioning contract in effect to answer the difference in pay as a result of it. But broadly speaking, Starbucks considers it in their financial best interest to pay lawyers millions of dollars and be willing to pay fines for illegal activity to stop their employees from unionizing. Assuming the unions do eventually get into place, they will very likely lead to an increase in pay, in PTO available, and will help keep health care costs for employees low, all of which will cut into corporate profits. Starbucks anticipates that this would cost them far more money than the anti-union work they're doing now. A very broad Google search that does not account for which industry or any other detail says that non-union workers made 81% as much as their unionized counterparts in 2019. So if you make $15 now without a union, on average, you might be making about $18.50 with a union.

To your last question, will this work? I'm convinced that yes, it will. There is enough momentum now across the nation and they are being so transparent about their utter contempt for our desire to have the option to unionize that I think this genie can't be put back into the bottle. But this is still a long-term prospect. Having a contract in place governing stores is likely at least a year out (contract negotiations very commonly take a year, even in established unions). We have to be willing to stick it out!

What is the average tenure for Starbucks baristas. By the time the dust settles and if there is a contract how many of the original partners that voted yes will still be with the company? Is being a barista something someone would want to do forever or is it a temporary job for them before finding a job they want to do in their career. If someone is looking to be a career barista then why not just got for a manager position. Everyone complains about bad managers but don’t wanna be a manager.