MINNEAPOLIS — Starbucks union workers, accompanied by U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, launched a summer-long bus tour on Monday.
This tour will include stops in 13 cities en route to Starbucks headquarters in Washington. It aims to highlight the plight of workers in the 300 non-unionized stores across the country.
Minnesota currently has six unionized stores, a result of months of efforts. The workers are demanding the right to organize and create a safe, secure, and respectful workplace. Additionally, they are asking for a living wage, guaranteed hours, and consistent scheduling.
The union representative stated, “This next chapter in our fight to win our fair, first contract with Starbucks brings not only Starbucks workers, but also other workers, labor organizations, and labor allies. It’s a testament to the labor movement that we’re willing to take our struggle on the road, all the way to Seattle.”
Kera Peterson, the president of St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, expressed the organization’s support for this labor movement. Peterson stated, “The east metro labor movement is with them for as long as it takes. Minnesota’s labor movement stands in solidarity with the thousands of Starbucks workers who are fighting for the right to form a union across the country.”
In response to the bus tour launch, a spokesperson from Starbucks issued a statement emphasizing the importance of bargaining for a fair contract. The statement also mentioned that only 11 stores have progressed in negotiations, despite attempts to schedule bargaining for hundreds of stores. The spokesperson shared that some partners have successfully filed petitions to decertify Workers United as their bargaining representative.
