Starbucks, Employees United union make progress in negotiations

Starbucks and Employees United, representing roughly 400 of its cafes, mentioned Friday in a joint launch that they made “significant progress” of their contract talks this week.

The 2 events mentioned a course of to resolve grievances, particulars associated to the union’s illustration of Starbucks baristas, and different matters on Wednesday and Thursday in Atlanta, in keeping with the press launch.

The 2-day session marked the primary time in practically a yr that Starbucks and Employees United got here to the bargaining desk. It adopted a February announcement that the 2 sides had been ending their bitter stalemate.

The espresso big spent greater than two years battling the union, which is an affiliate of the Service Staff Worldwide Union, or SEIU. Employees United has broadly pushed for greater wages and extra constant scheduling, amongst a spread of different priorities.

This week’s talks are the closest that any of the unionized places, which make up a small fraction of Starbucks’ complete U.S. footprint, have come to a collective bargaining settlement.

But, there’s nonetheless an extended highway forward.

“There’s more to do, but we are committed to working together,” each side mentioned in a joint assertion.

Starbucks and the union plan to satisfy once more in late Might to maintain engaged on the framework that may inform each single-store contract, in keeping with the discharge. Particular person shops will nonetheless have to barter and ratify their contracts as soon as that basis has been constructed.

Labor legal guidelines don’t require that the employer and union attain a collective bargaining settlement, solely that each discount in good religion. After a yr, staff who lose religion within the union can petition to decertify, placing a ticking clock on negotiations. 

Correction: This text has been up to date to mirror that Starbucks and Employees United characterize about 400 cafes. An earlier model misstated the quantity.