From CNBC: 2024-09-25 10:38:53

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has committed to bargaining in good faith with the union representing many of its baristas, as the two sides work on a labor deal. Workers United is pushing for fair scheduling, a living wage, and racial and gender equity. The union represents over 10,500 Starbucks employees in more than 490 U.S. cafes.

In a letter obtained by CNBC, Niccol expressed deep respect for partners’ right to choose union representation. Starbucks and Workers United have been negotiating a framework for collective bargaining agreements. Niccol, new to the union discussions, previously dealt with unionization at Chipotle, where only one location had successfully unionized.

The Starbucks Workers United bargaining delegation sent a letter ahead of another bargaining session with Starbucks. Both parties agreed to work together after mediation to resolve lawsuits stemming from the union’s social media posts. Currently, the union represents over 490 Starbucks cafes and more than 10,500 employees in the U.S.

Three years ago, Starbucks workers began unionizing under Workers United, a move that sparked legal battles with the coffee giant. CEO Brian Niccol, who recently joined Starbucks, is committed to engaging constructively with the union. The company has over 16,700 locations in the U.S., with more than half owned by the company.



Read more at CNBC: New Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol commits to working with union