LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. — At least two Starbucks locations in the Lehigh Valley say they will join union baristas around the country this week in a strike just before the holiday season.
Baristas say they are prepared to strike following six months of attempted negotiations with Starbucks. They say the coffee company refused to offer new proposals to address workers’ demands for better staffing, higher pay and a resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges.
Stores included are off Route 248 in Lower Nazareth Township and along MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township.
“All I can say is that it looks like the company is forcing the workers to go on strike. And you know, the results of the strike authorization vote show how [the union members] feel about it."Ayesha Mughal, who works at the Lower Nazareth Starbucks
According to a news release, the union is preparing to take a stance on Starbucks’ Red Cup Day — when customers receive a free, reuseable holiday cup when they purchase a holiday-themed beverage.
They say they'll strike on Red Cup Day — Thursday, Nov. 13 — if the corporation does not finalize a fair contract by then.
Union organizers estimate strike actions could affect more than 25 cities across the country, with baristas saying they're prepared to escalate if concerns over pay, hours, staffing and unfair labor practices are left unaddressed.
“All I can say is that it looks like the company is forcing the workers to go on strike," said union member Ayesha Mughal, who works at the Lower Nazareth location at 3712 Easton Nazareth Highway (Route 248).
"And, you know, the results of the strike authorization vote show how [the union members] feel about it. Looks like they're feeling pretty ready.”
Mughal said her store, along with the Whitehall location at 2630 MacArthur Road, are prepped to strike.
'Things have gone backward'
Starbucks barista and strike captain Jasmine Leli, a Buffalo, New York, employee who has been with the company for three years, said the goal is to make Starbucks jobs “the best jobs in retail.”
Right now, Leli said, “it’s only the best job in retail for [Starbucks Chief Executive Officer] Brian Niccol.”
“If Starbucks keeps stonewalling, they should expect to see their business grind to a halt. The ball is in Starbucks’ court.”Starbucks Workers United spokeswoman Michelle Eisen
“Things have only gone backward at Starbucks under Niccol’s leadership, but a fair union contract and the resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges are essential to the company’s turnaround,” Leli said.
“Too many of us rely on SNAP or Medicaid just to get by, and most baristas still don’t earn a livable wage.
"In a majority of states, starting pay is just $15.25 an hour —and even then, we’re not getting the 20 hours a week we need to qualify for benefits.”
Starbucks Workers United spokeswoman and 15-year veteran barista Michelle Eisen said union members mean business and are ready to do whatever it takes to secure a fair contract and resolve unfair labor practices.
“We want Starbucks to succeed, but turning the company around and bringing customers back begins with listening to and supporting the baristas who are responsible for the Starbucks experience,” Eisen said.
“If Starbucks keeps stonewalling, they should expect to see their business grind to a halt. The ball is in Starbucks’ court.”
Starbucks responds
Starbucks said last week that it’s disappointed the union plans to strike instead of returning to the bargaining table.
“Any agreement needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks already offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners,” Starbucks spokeswoman Jaci Anderson said Wednesday.
In a letter to Starbucks employees released last week, Starbucks’ Chief Partner Officer Sara Kelly said the union has proposed a 65% pay increase immediately and a 77% increase over three years, with additional payments for things such as weekends or days when Starbucks runs promotions.
“These aren’t serious, evidence-based proposals.”Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ chief partner officer
Kelly also said some proposals would significantly alter Starbucks’ operations, such as giving workers the ability to shut down mobile ordering if a store has more than five orders in the queue.
“These aren’t serious, evidence-based proposals,” Kelly said.
In a release, the union called Starbucks “the biggest violator of labor law in modern history with Administrative Law Judges and the National Labor Relations Board finding that Starbucks has committed more than 500 labor law violations.”
To date, Workers United has submitted more than 1,000 unfair labor practices complaints, including over 125 since January.
More than 700 unresolved charges remain, including a set of national unfair labor practices around bad faith bargaining and unilateral policy changes, and specific unfair labor practices around retaliatory firings and discipline.
Workers United and Starbucks are not currently engaged in contract negotiations, with the union stating, “Starbucks has refused to put forth new proposals that address union baristas’ demands.”
Elected union delegates overwhelmingly rejected Starbucks’ contract offer in April; it failed to improve wages or benefits in the first year of the contract and did not put forth proposals to address chronic understaffing, the union said.
