What’s New With the Starbucks Labor Movement

But there still isn't a contract. Crosscut reporter Lizz Giordano updates us on employees’ unionizing efforts.

Unions have been flexing their muscles to advocate for workers’ rights across sectors from the auto industry to Hollywood.   

Coffee shops are no exception: Employees at more than 300 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize under Starbucks Workers United since December 2021, when a shop in Buffalo became the first to do so.  

Earlier this year, Crosscut reporter Lizz Giordano wrote about these unionizing efforts, including the alleged retaliation workers said they faced from the coffee giant and their ongoing struggle to secure a contract.   

In this episode of Crosscut Reports, we checked back in with Lizz to ask if there were any updates since we last spoke to her. She talked about Starbucks employees’ growing union power – especially in Eastern Washington – as well as what’s on the horizon when it comes to bargaining with the coffee chain.    

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Credits

Host/Producer: Maleeha Syed and Sara Bernard

Reporter: Lizz Giordano

Story editor: Ryan Famuliner

Executive producer: Sarah Menzies

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