Union Issue at Starbucks

Summary:

Starbucks workers have unionized at record speed. More than 300 Starbucks stores in close to three dozen states have had union elections — a stunning number, given not a single company-owned store had a union at this time last year. Even more remarkable is that 80% of them, or around 245 stores, have gone in favor of forming a union.

In retaliation, the company has taken a wide array of measures to aggressively fight the union — from blanketing employee communications with anti-union messaging, including in one-on-one meetings, to announcing raises and benefits for nonunion stores only, to firing workers identified as union leaders.

Question 1

Starbucks claims that employees don’t need a union because the company has always provided for them. Is Starbucks right in its assertion? Why or why not?

Question 2

Starbucks announced raises and new benefits for employees but only in nonunion stores. What are your thoughts on this?

Source:

https://www(dot)npr(dot)org/2022/10/02/1124680518/starbucks-union-busting-howard-schultz-nlrb