Starbucks baristas in North Carolina, Rhode Island vote to unionize as company renews contract talks

Starbucks workers in Durham, North Carolina and Providence, Rhode Island voted to unionize this week, bringing with it the number of unionized Starbucks locations across the nation to 369.

The votes were counted a few days after Starbucks sent a letter to Lynne Fox—the international president of the union that includes Starbucks Workers United—asking to resume contract negotiations beginning in early 2024. Fox said in a statement that it was reviewing the letter and waiting to respond.

Negotiations between the unions and Starbucks have been tense, to say the least. The company was accused of stopping their tactics and union bust activities. Starbucks has placed restrictions on where negotiations can take place (only in person). The company too sued Starbucks Workers United in October for using its name in the union’s title and a similar logo. Not a single labor contract has been signed since the first Starbucks workers joined in December 2021 in Buffalo, New York.

Starbucks workers started to strike in March over the company’s alleged anti-union practices, then again this summer issues of LGBTQ+ inclusion after locations restricted the use of Pride decorations. In November, workers have the biggest strike in company history over low pay and poor working conditions.

A third party report commissioned by Starbucks and released on Wednesday (December 13), states that the company is not opposed to bargaining, but was unprepared for the union efforts of its workers.

The Rhode Island Starbucks store that voted unanimously to unionize Tuesday (Dec. 12) will be the first store in the state to become part of Starbucks Workers United, according to The Providence Journal. The North Carolina store was the third in the state to unionize, The News & Observer reported.