St. Louis Starbucks workers to file for union election

Baristas set to join national organizing wave at coffee chain

Ladue, MO –  Starbucks Cafe workers at 1500 S. Lindbergh Blvd. will file for a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election later today and join the Starbucks Workers United movement, which already includes three Kansas City, Mo. area stores.

The Starbucks workers are organizing with Workers United (SEIU), the same international union that backed successful campaigns in Buffalo, NY last December. According to Workers United, an overwhelming majority of eligible employees at the Starbucks located at Lindbergh Blvd. and Clayton Road have signed union authorization cards.

In a letter e-mailed early Tuesday morning to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and signed by the store’s union organizing committee and supporters, the local workers wrote:

“Despite being a highly profitable store during a highly profitable time for the company, we are being gaslit by management that we suddenly cannot afford sufficient staffing. Partners fear they will not meet their benefits eligibility, and many have felt forced to seek second jobs or new jobs entirely. Since new management has started cutting hours, fully a dozen members of our staff have left for other jobs…Those of us who remain face rock bottom morale and constant lies from management. We are announcing our union because we know we can stop this. There are other options than walking away: We can fight back. We no longer are able to trust Starbucks to do the right thing. As a unionized store, we [would be] happy to help drive the company in the right direction.”

In a statement of support, Organizing Committee member, Megan LeRose from the 39th and Arrowhead store in Independence, Mo. said:

“I am really excited to see partners in St. Louis join the union movement. Our movement has sparked solidarity across the country and it is just the beginning in the Midwest. Each new petition inspires even more [workers] to organize. We are overworked and undervalued, and it isn’t an isolated incident. The work conditions partners deal with are universal and together we inspire each other to demand the respect we deserve. To my fellow partners in St. Louis, I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see your organizing pay off for you and other stores in your area! Keep close to your heart what brought you to file today through the journey ahead. Seeing you join us just further confirms that we are doing what’s right for us and workers beyond our company, and keeps me passionate about the work ahead. ”

You can follow Starbucks baristas’ growing fight or union recognition on Twitter at @SBWorkersUnited and @CMRJB.