Starbucks and Workers United, the union representing its baristas, are set to resume contract negotiations following an extended stalemate. This decision comes after mediation discussions surrounding the union’s use of Starbucks’ branding. Roughly 500 company-owned Starbucks locations in the U.S. have voted to unionize under Workers United.
The coffee giant had previously insisted on face-to-face negotiations, which the union accused Starbucks of using as a stalling tactic. However, labor laws require both sides to bargain in good faith, with workers having the ability to petition for decertification after a year. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) currently has 19 pending decertification petitions, with 18 being denied due to unfair labor practices by Starbucks.
In addition to bargaining with Workers United, Starbucks is also negotiating with other unions representing its cafes, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This resumption of negotiations comes after Starbucks appealed a lower court’s approval of an injunction sought by the NLRB to reinstate seven fired workers.
The outcome of these negotiations is crucial as a Supreme Court ruling could potentially weaken the NLRB and organized labor as a whole. Starbucks is expected to provide more information on the union negotiations during its quarterly earnings call scheduled for Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
