yes everywhere.

sadly the stores that it'd work best at, are the stores that people don't feel they need it at. They have amazing managers, so there isn't a problem. A lot of stores have shitty managers/DMs and the people at the store are tired of the bullshit and don't want to deal with it anymore. So they try and get a union started.


If you have an amazing crew and they all want to work for that store for YEARS together and then you get a new manager who sucks - totally get it. Dealing with shitty managers/DMs would be so easy with a union rep. You have things that are expected, and they'll do it or there is a huge issue.


Starbucks has to realize that it's ON them for this trend. People looked around and realized we were getting fucked on wages, hours, cuts, logistics, issues in general and it was falling back on SSV and Baristas.


working at a great store, with a great manager and DM and local people makes it easier. We do however have some shuffling of new higher ups... and now everyone is like: oh, don't do \_\_\_\_\_ because \_\_\_\_\_ doesn't like that.


well, it can only do that for so long before someone is like: wait, we don't have to do \_\_\_\_\_ because of ONE person. If there is a union involved that shit gets stopped quick.

I’d like to vaguely share my story. I’d also like to preface this by saying in no way am I anti-union, but I feel like proper procedures should be followed first. I’ve worked many, many jobs in very different fields and even graduated college…. So I do have a lot of experience. Im also an infinitely unlucky person who has dealt with a lot of bullshit from other jobs. I was just diagnosed with a plethora of mental illnesses, one of which includes a processing delay, that I’m now realizing (in my 30’s) how it effects me.

I’ve been with Starbucks for less than a year. I started at a store that was known for being unable to keep employees, for reasons unknown. I got hired on rather easily- I was told that SM would hire literally anyone… During training, I immediately fell in love with the job. I love that fast paced and the (what at first glance appeared to be) organized chaos.

I’m an incredibly hard worker, and I was (unbeknownst to me) quickly taken advantage of. I was “bullied” (for lack of a better word) beginning my first week not training. A fellow partner, before I arrived for my shift one morning, took time to get a few perfectly round pucks of the used espresso grounds, decorated them real nice with whipped cream, placed them in egg trays, had four, one with mocha drizzle, one with strawberry drizzle, another with caramel, and one with none. They proceeded to inform me these were our new desserts, we’re allowed to try them. I asked for a fork. Another partner quickly realized what was happening and shut it down. After that, the partner who tried to get me to eat the fake brownies- treated me like absolute shit. Cussing at me on the floor because at that store register, support, and customer support were one position. That was my assigned position…. Everyday. When, upon being hired on, I was told no one works the same position all the time.
Except brownie partner. This partner got what they wanted. They started dating a fellow partner. After receiving three final written notices, on separate occasions (one of which included getting a minor high at the back door of the store with a vape pen, still in the building) they proclaimed they’d never work without their new significant other present…. Brownie got what they asked for. Brownie and I had multiple connects to try to find common ground. I bought them a gift, tried to be their friend. Until eventually I let my SM know- “this situation will come to a head one day and I will walk out if they are continued to allow to speak to me this way”… sure enough, the day of my 6 months- I walked out in the middle of peak. Brownie was cussing me because I couldn’t refill her supplies quick enough, with a tone that triggers me, while I have a lobby full of guests I’m dealing with. My SM was on warming, and could hear it all. SM does and says nothing until I tell Brownie TWICE “now is not the time or the place, we are on the floor working” TWICE. SM tells me they are going to write ME up. I removed my hat and apron in the back, and clocked out, stepped off the floor and told her I refused to be treated like shit any longer, I quit.

Now, I’d received POQ in my first 6 months, I was familiar with our District Manager, although never had a chance to speak with them really, as I always stayed busy. I’m a GREAT employee. Knowing all this, I sent my district manager a text relating that I’d walked out of my shift, then an email 15 times longer than what this will be, not only detailing every event I finally processed where I was taken advantage of, but also that out store was the best in the district because of the shifts picking up where my SM fell short. The whole crew was always covering for the SM’s short comings. I was making OT almost every week for a while because I’d get called and asked to come in- I loved it. But the SM was late every day, despite making the schedule, even if they were scheduled to be on the floor. They’d leave the floor early, without telling anyone, we’d have to find them and my shifts would try and coach the store manager. I cited my sources, handed in my evidence, and gave names of people I thought would talk to the DM. Explained this has been happening since before I arrived but no one wants to lose their job or work in a hostile environment with the SM after they’ve complained about them… DM understood.

DM opened an investigation, I’m not sure exactly what happened, but that SM allegedly demoted themselves, and took a LOA. I was honest with my DM about cussing to my SM when I quit and everything I’d also done wrong. Despite that, my DM allowed me to transfer and I got written up, and can’t get promoted until that expires? Or whatever.

I say all this to say, if you’re having problems, follow the proper procedures in place. I’ve worked other jobs where I’ve called OSHA, or the Health Department, whatever’s necessary. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. And chances are, your DM may know SOMETHING is going on, but their hands are tied unless you speak up. Be your own advocate. I advocated for myself and my crew at my old store. Word on the streets is they’ve seen positive changes. They may be a little understaffed right now, but they still seem to love me, and I’m grateful for them.

Unfortunately it's true tho. My store has gotten really toxic, I'm not trying to discourage others from unionizing.

I genuinely don't know anything about the union and what it offers because every time a union rep says something, it gets countered by a non union supporter. Don't know who to believe. If my pay gets raised cool but other than that I couldn't care less about the union. I'm not planning on staying with starbucks that long anyway lol

Yes, bargaining takes forever though.

in no way am i saying they are facts but this is what i was told. So i was told the wage you bargain is what you stay at and can’t get raises anymore until bargaining again, it will be harder or you won’t be able to transfer, you will have to go to your problems to the union and instead of just one person (SM) deciding how to solve your problem and i know that might be a pro for people that have horrible SM but i like mine so i didn’t want to have to go to someone else. paying union fees, union workers can’t pick up shifts at another store and can’t receive items from another store, benefits might freeze temporarily and just that it takes forever to get a contract. all the pros i hard were that it will probably make a change but that won’t be for a really long time. this is just what i was time and we ended up voting no.