Labor Unions and the Coffee Industry
by Raven Mickeletto
Recent news in America has frequently included mentions of Starbucks baristas unionizing. An increasing number of baristas and others involved in the coffee industry are reclaiming their power through collective bargaining, in an attempt to protect their rights as both humans and employees. In the case of Starbucks specifically, the National Labor Relations Board has found hundreds of violations of the National Labor Relations Act.
To summarize, in 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (or, NLRA). This was passed in order to clarify that it is the general policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining by protecting workers’ full freedom of association. More specifically, the NLRA protects workplace democracy by providing private-sector employees with the fundamental right to request improved working conditions. The Act also designates representation without fear of retaliation.
While unionizing in the coffee industry has become more popular in mainstream media as of late, the concept and practice are not new by any means. Historically, especially in the Midwest, service industry establishments which were located near union factories must have also been unionized if they wanted the business of the factory workers. Many attempts to unionize coffee cafes were made in 2017, 2019, and 2020 specifically.
The vast majority of baristas who are organizing, creating, and/or joining unions are demanding:
Fair contracts;
Improved workplace safety, especially in the time of a global pandemic; and
A current livable wage. Many baristas also have the noble goal of making the unionization process less intimidating for other employees who are looking to join the movement.
Many employers, especially larger corporations, are outspoken about their negative opinions of unions. One of the most common reasons would be that CEOs and other leaders believe that their employees should “just trust” their leadership. However, most of these reasons for being anti-union are simply anti-fair practices in nature. This can be proven by the fact that in 2017, when Ann Arbor baristas filed for a union election, the company responded by laying off all of the baristas and closing their doors. Employers may see unions as a threat to their exploitative business practices, while union members are simply asking to be treated fairly when at work.
Currently, the Starbucks located at 45th and Lamar has become the first and only unionized Starbucks location in the state of Texas. With the resurgence of workers in all fields asserting their human right to improved working conditions, it is likely that this location will not be the last.
For more information on the history of coffee shops unionizing, as well as other perspectives on the matter, visit the following sites which were referenced when writing this piece:
A Brief History Of Coffee Unions
Why Are Starbucks Baristas Unionizing?
A Look Inside The Rise of Union Organizing at Coffee Shops
And, if you would like more information on unionizing your own workplace, Union Track has provided digital tools to do so.
