Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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my store is in the process of unionizing, all of a sudden people are getting write ups left and right (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by 222energy
my store is a 24 hour store and the busiest store in the whole state. drive thru only. we are so busy and always understaffed, our managers will manipulate and gaslight us daily.
so recently we got enough votes to petition to unionize, and from my understanding we have a lawyer for our store now.
ever since the emails were sent to our store managers and district managers, people are getting “corrective actions” (fancy word for write up) for calling into their shifts 2 hours before the shift started. people are getting written up before even being spoken to.
i asked my manager what the protocol was for calling out and she said it’s always been 4 or 5 hours. as long as i’ve had a job it’s been 2 hours? people are also getting written up for being 10 minutes late when they’ve never been late before.
some of us recently had a meeting with the store and district manager and they asked what they could do to help us. when we gave them examples they pretty much said “if you don’t like it you can leave or transfer”. so yeah i think this store is about to lose their best workers that have been with the company for 5+ years.
so recently we got enough votes to petition to unionize, and from my understanding we have a lawyer for our store now.
ever since the emails were sent to our store managers and district managers, people are getting “corrective actions” (fancy word for write up) for calling into their shifts 2 hours before the shift started. people are getting written up before even being spoken to.
i asked my manager what the protocol was for calling out and she said it’s always been 4 or 5 hours. as long as i’ve had a job it’s been 2 hours? people are also getting written up for being 10 minutes late when they’ve never been late before.
some of us recently had a meeting with the store and district manager and they asked what they could do to help us. when we gave them examples they pretty much said “if you don’t like it you can leave or transfer”. so yeah i think this store is about to lose their best workers that have been with the company for 5+ years.
AuthoringInProgress 232 points 7m ago
Some of this isn't against policy, but yeah, if you're only now being written up for it, that sounds like they're targeting union members--which is, I think, illegal.
Make hard copies of everything and get some testimonials.
Make hard copies of everything and get some testimonials.
looker009 60 points 7m ago
While they absolutely got target on their back, legally nothing stopping management from enforcing written policy. Starbucks will probably close their stores in 3-4 months once they unionize for lack of performance or some other bs.
sheep_heavenly 44 points 7m ago
Incorrect, legally if you can establish that the policies were not enforced the same way before it is illegal for the policies to be enforced more strictly after petitioning.
Fired partners have been slowly getting reinstated and corrective actions have been purged from people's records due to NLRB rulings.
Fired partners have been slowly getting reinstated and corrective actions have been purged from people's records due to NLRB rulings.
sten45 2 points 7m ago
Union strong!
AuthoringInProgress 17 points 7m ago
Then make a record. If a pattern emerges, there's a case to be made in court
looker009 9 points 7m ago
Starbucks don't care. They are doing union busting and getting away with it. That is the reality. It's unfortunate that each store have to unionize separately and can't do regional all at once.
Nalin90 19 points 7m ago
They aren't getting away with it though. They've facing lawsuits and have been forced to rehire those they illegally fired for unionizing with back pay. I'm not saying they won't try ever dirty trick in the book but that does not mean we should not give up trying.
Tolkienside 6 points 7m ago
It may not be against policy, but it's policy being applied inconsistently. That's important.
JekKeanusFan 186 points 7m ago
Make hard copies of everything and get testimonials
Nraveles11 35 points 7m ago
Not the bootlickers coming to corporates defense. They would throw you out just as fast as the rest of us.
222energy [OP] 10 points 7m ago
literally lmao
sweetxfracture 34 points 7m ago
The amount of corporate bootlickers in this thread is absolutely insane… what is wrong with y’all? (Specifically two people who’s comments are locked now so I can’t reply) you’re riding so hard for a company who couldn’t give less of a shit about you at the end of the day.. why?
chinksauces 31 points 7m ago
Like some people have said, it’s unfortunate that you guys are being targeted and having the rules enforced specifically on pro union partners, however that’s just something you guys need to be on top of.
Our store went to unionize as well and we definitely had our fair share of union busting. You guys just need to be on top of your standards. You guys should also look into the handbook to make note and double check if anything is false and if they’re pulling things out of their asses.
Make sure to note anything, date, time, have a witness etc. these things need to be logged and you guys could potentially file a ULP with your labor union rep against your SM/DM.
Our store went to unionize as well and we definitely had our fair share of union busting. You guys just need to be on top of your standards. You guys should also look into the handbook to make note and double check if anything is false and if they’re pulling things out of their asses.
Make sure to note anything, date, time, have a witness etc. these things need to be logged and you guys could potentially file a ULP with your labor union rep against your SM/DM.
flutel00p 12 points 7m ago
Starbucks hired a law firm notorious for union-busting. I wish I could say I’m shocked but I’m not
rudebii 18 points 7m ago
they literally hired an ex-cia agent and pinkerton to head up union busting. the siren isn't playing.
also has to make you think, if they're fighting so hard, spending all that money, how much do they have to lose and partners have to gain from unionizing?
also has to make you think, if they're fighting so hard, spending all that money, how much do they have to lose and partners have to gain from unionizing?
flutel00p 12 points 7m ago
Companies that try to union-bust are the ones whose employees SHOULD be in unions.
zshadowhunter 1 points 7m ago
Spies don't cone cheap ya know.
I'm pretty sure between the spy and the lost labor suits, that's where all our Holiday working hours vanished too.
I'm pretty sure between the spy and the lost labor suits, that's where all our Holiday working hours vanished too.
acelestialgay 10 points 7m ago
There’s a reason Starbucks is being sued for illegal retaliatory behavior.
HoorahsShades 10 points 7m ago
Like others have said, keep note of everything! Talk with your state staffer, whatever union attorney you have, whoever about the changes they are making. Hopefully you or some others at your store have heard the term ULP by now. Unfair Labor Practices hit all the things you’d expect, but the one you will want to discuss with coworkers and staffers is the change in how “Starbucks policy” is being enforced. I can’t say that you’d win if this became a case with the NLRB, but it’s certainly something you can fight! Don’t be discouraged, and don’t let others be discouraged either! Clean up the things you need to improve on, and stick together!
shhucks 9 points 7m ago
If you pull up the Partner Guide, there actually isn't a time. It just says with as much notice as possible.
Kitabparast 8 points 7m ago
Former HR pro here.
This is, unfortunately, very common. In HR, a manager beginning to closely scrutinize an employee’s performance and documenting issues is considered a prelude to termination. It’s a process, and they play along. It’s almost impossible for an employee to win.
Is it legal? If they go by policy, yes. There’s nothing illegal with a company deciding to enforce policy. But there is disparate impact: if only pro-union are suffering (that is, anti-union or union-undecided are not getting written up for similar violations), a case can be made that they are specifically targeting unionizing employees, and that’s illegal.
I’m an SSV and if we would be royally screwed if we had to follow all of the rules. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t started unionizing. I know what’s going to happen and the effort will fall flat on its face.
This is, unfortunately, very common. In HR, a manager beginning to closely scrutinize an employee’s performance and documenting issues is considered a prelude to termination. It’s a process, and they play along. It’s almost impossible for an employee to win.
Is it legal? If they go by policy, yes. There’s nothing illegal with a company deciding to enforce policy. But there is disparate impact: if only pro-union are suffering (that is, anti-union or union-undecided are not getting written up for similar violations), a case can be made that they are specifically targeting unionizing employees, and that’s illegal.
I’m an SSV and if we would be royally screwed if we had to follow all of the rules. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t started unionizing. I know what’s going to happen and the effort will fall flat on its face.
orcvodka 6 points 7m ago
if you filed through starbucks workers united you should also have the contact information your regional union lawyer, send documentation of these write ups to them make make sure you get those to them. you should also check what laws your state has surrounding recording conversations and record conversations with management when possible.
sten45 4 points 7m ago
This is the game for you now, if it is written policy you are all going to have to be perfect till the contract is signed and your new protections are finalized. I am pro-union but want to make it clear that following written policy to the letter is how you have to operate and remember even once the contract is negotiated and signed you are going to have to perform to the "letter of the law" in regard to the contract. If, for example, the contract says that you will be breathalyzed before every shift you will have to blow before every shift and if you do not you will not work that shift. But until you are under a collective bargaining contract you all have to be perfect and obey all written policies.
Professor_Sqi 4 points 7m ago
Imagine my shock, a big company trying to union bust its members. Keep at it. Its illegal. Document everything, consult your union, stand together. Its you all together vs them, not each other.
Follow policy to the letter and they can't touxh you
Follow policy to the letter and they can't touxh you
HamburgIar_ 5 points 7m ago
Exactly...follow policy and you are fine.
reauh 3 points 7m ago
yeah my store got union cards out before someone told out mangers and then we had a meeting where our district manager basically scared everyone into asking for their cards back by saying that we won’t be able to get raises, we won’t have as much say in how the store runs, and we won’t be able to have “informal” meeting anymore. it was very obviously a scare tactic that unfortunately worked. our store is similar. busiest in the district, usually understaffed, and always unorganized.
darkwolf523 2 points 7m ago
What the others said, make hard copies if everything, testimonials.
Comfortable-Plane944 2 points 7m ago
Talk to your union rep and your lawyer what they are doing is illegal- and they can help you file an unfair labor practice with nlrb. Shot like this happened to my store too when we filed
chaosatnight 1 points 7m ago
I think it’s always been 3 hours at the absolute latest. It sucks that people are getting write ups, but if they’re technically appropriate, my advice would be to just for your i’s and cross your t’s
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justinbates1992 0 points 7m ago
I’m so glad I left shitbux…..
rorirosu 0 points 7m ago
These are definitely unilateral changes. Contact your wu/seiu reps asap and they can get the lawyers to help you.
3aTroop 0 points 7m ago
Sounds about right….
I_Love-Lasagna 0 points 7m ago
I love seeing all the boot lickers in these comments
HamburgIar_ -3 points 7m ago
Victim mentality at its finest.
looker009 -31 points 7m ago
So management is enforcing store policy and you somehow think that is wrong ? Being late to your shift is being late to your shift, it don't matter how long someone been there. Stop violating corp policy and no write up's will happen.
mcdermottbobby -21 points 7m ago
Nice to see someone here has common sense, people need to stop complaining about not being able to make it to work on time.
HamburgIar_ -10 points 7m ago
I mean...you really can't be surprised that y'all are finally being held to store policy now.
The call out time frame before a shift being 4/5 hours is nonsense but if you are 10minutes late for your shift you should be written up.
The call out time frame before a shift being 4/5 hours is nonsense but if you are 10minutes late for your shift you should be written up.
long-pit 36 points 7m ago
i believe op's upset that they and their employees are being "held up to store policy" AFTER they've unionized. it's the inconsistency and the obvious disfavoring of union stores that's wrong, not the rules.
edit: $1 suggesting that what management's doing is against the national labor relations board. get evidence of inconsistent application of company policy first, $1. just because your coworkers demanded better rights for themselves, doesn't mean you don't deserve job security. good luck.
edit: $1 suggesting that what management's doing is against the national labor relations board. get evidence of inconsistent application of company policy first, $1. just because your coworkers demanded better rights for themselves, doesn't mean you don't deserve job security. good luck.
222energy [OP] 35 points 7m ago
i think if you are 10 minutes late to your shift ONCE you shouldn’t be written up. i think you should be talked to about it and if it happens again then yes i get it
HamburgIar_ -42 points 7m ago
That's awesome you feel that way but you work for Starbucks and they afford management the option to move straight to a write up for time and attendance.
Also, just because a partner has been with the company for 5+ years, doesn't mean they are the best partners. I will take a 6 month partner who follows policy over a 6 year partner who does things their own way any day of the week.
Also, just because a partner has been with the company for 5+ years, doesn't mean they are the best partners. I will take a 6 month partner who follows policy over a 6 year partner who does things their own way any day of the week.
222energy [OP] 23 points 7m ago
i have worked for starbucks for over 5 years. i used to love my job and have never had a problem with management until i transferred to this store. starbucks is supposed to lead with empathy and i don’t feel that at all anymore. i show up to every shift on time and work my ass off and even put myself in danger (store is in a dangerous neighborhood)
Hoax_Pudding_Cup 23 points 7m ago
Lead with empathy? My trainer got written up for not finding coverage while she was having a miscarriage, this is no empathy.
bigdog510 16 points 7m ago
No, the company does not lead with empathy. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. Don’t get brainwashed into thinking this. No offense but if you died tomorrow, they would get your shifts covered and move on.
HamburgIar_ -7 points 7m ago
Then transfer to a different store? Management makes or breaks your store experience for sure. There are a ton of horrible SMs but also some very good ones. I would ask around your district to get feedback from current partners.
[deleted] 1 points 7m ago
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