By KEVIN MADDEN
Correspondent
Richmond Heights – More than 50 Labor and community supporters gathered July 11 at a “Solidarity Sip-In” to support employees voting for a union at the Starbucks on Dale Avenue at Hanley Road.
Ballots were mailed the same day to the homes of the 24 eligible employees at the coffee shop.
“We’re pretty confident we’ve got the votes to win this,” barista Sarah Weitzel said.
Supporters packing the Starbucks ordered their coffee and other drinks under the names, “Union Yes” and “Union Strong.”
The two-hour event was organized by Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.
The campaign to organize Starbucks so far has resulted in victories at four locations, two in St. Louis city and one each in Ladue and Valley Park.
In addition to teachers and members of other unions, activists from Jobs With Justice and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) attended the event.
Kathleen “Kitty” Loepker, a United Steelworkers retiree, drove from her home in Belleville. “Any way I can support a union, I’ll do it,” she said.
Even a state representative drove from her home in St. Louis to buy a “Union Yes” coffee.
“I’m proud to show my support for their organizing a union,” said State Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, a Democrat whose district covers south St. Louis city and county.
“I fully support workers’ rights because I’ve seen both sides,” she said. “Unions provide meaningful benefits for their members.”
Moore cited the case of her mother, a union teacher who retired on a union-won pension. “The union’s still taking care of her today,” she said.
One barista, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had to be convinced to support the union drive. “I was hesitant at first,” she said.
But after talking with Workers United organizers and attending meetings, she realized forming a union was a necessary step to achieving fairness at her workplace.
Some of the issues that concerned her were wages, fairness in scheduling breaks and shifts, and having to work at least 20 hours a week in order to qualify for the company’s healthcare benefits.
“Now I know the only way for us to get a say at the table is to get a big seat at that table,” she said.
Starbucks employees said they were told the votes would be counted on Aug. 11 by the NLRB subregional office in Overland Park, Kan.
UNION STARBUCKS
- Lindbergh & Clayton, 1500 S Lindbergh Blvd.
- Hampton & Wise , 1216 Hampton Ave.
- Kingshighway & Chippewa, 3700 South Kingshighway.
- Hwy 141 & I44 in Valley Park, 922 South Meramec Station Rd.
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