I remember reading Howard Schultz’s book Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time when it came out in 1997.  In a Linkedin article about the book, Ashutosh Saxena says that Starbucks offered the best-in-industry employee benefits, even to the part timers. “Schultz proudly talks about how many of Starbucks’ employees have built wealth to meet their life goals, thanks to the stock option plans the company provides. This has led to high performance, low employee turnover and lower training and development costs.”

Some 25 years later, there are almost 16,000 Starbucks stores (a combination of corporate owned and licensed locations) in the US, as well as thousands more in 84 different countries. And a number of those locations now have employees striving to unionize – leading to the question of why workers are dissatisfied with a company once touted as leading its industry in salaries and benefits. What is the possible impact of this movement on other hourly workers – such as those in retail – and what do the Starbucks employees want?

According to the Starbucks Workers United website, the nine points below represent their core demands for establishing a national framework. 

• RIGHT TO ORGANIZE
• STRONG FOUNDATION OF RIGHTS
• HEALTH & SAFETY
• WAGES & PAY
• NO REDUCTIONS
• HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE
• GUARANTEED & CONSISTENT SCHEDULES
• EXPANDED LOA & PTO (leaves of absence and personal time off)
• IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO WITHHELD BENEFITS (tips, training)

One of the key demands is a base wage for all workers of at least $20 an hour for baristas, with higher wages in high cost areas. Affordable and 100% employer-paid healthcare, accessible for full and part time workers after 30 days of employment, is another demand. Full time is defined as 32 hours a week.

Why this new movement towards unionization? Forbes states that the pandemic gave people time to “rethink their relationship with work and their employers. Many began talking about their struggles, such as poor treatment from customers, unfair management practices, and other labor issues. At the same time, companies began to post record profits, especially as the pandemic receded.”

It is worth noting that other demands from the Starbucks employees include being treated with respect, listened to, and given a regular, dependable schedule.  Independent retailers may not be able to match the wage, insurance and benefits being requested by the Starbucks employees – but it’s essential that we make an effort to do our best to create a meaningful, safe and respectful workplace. 

Happy Retailing,

Carol “Orange” Schroeder