Starbucks Employees Turn To GoFundMe For Support Amid Union Drive

SEATTLE — Pacific Northwest Starbucks employees are asking for the public's support as they battle their employer for their right to unionize.

Just last week, the Broadway & Denny Starbucks, located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, became the first Washington Starbucks to unionize, joining Starbucks Workers United. At a conference celebrating their victory, newly-minted union members mentioned that Starbucks had been relatively hands-off during their union drive, at least compared to other states, where the coffee giant's pushback has reportedly been severe.

Apparently, that grace period has come to a close. In its fundraiser posted to GoFundMe Monday, Pacific Northwest Starbucks Workers United says that Starbucks has begun hitting local employees "with a vicious union-busting campaign."

"Starbucks’s latest union-busting tactic, slashing workers’ hours well below what we can live on, has left many of us financially desperate," fundraiser organizers wrote. "Starbucks is counting on this economic stranglehold to prevent its workers from using collective action to fight for our rights."

Money raised by the fundraiser will go to provide financial relief to Starbucks workers in the Pacific Northwest so workers "do not have to choose between rent and [their] legally-protected right to strike."

Organizers set a goal of $20,000 in the hopes of being able to fully reimburse workers for their lost hours. Just one day later, and they've already raised just shy of $9,000. Among the donations, a $5,000 gift from Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who has long supported Starbucks workers in their union effort.

"Congrats to Seattle Starbucks workers @SeattleSBWU, who've launched a fund to aid their union drive & sustain potential strikes," Sawant tweeted. "I'm proud to have donated $5,000 to the fund. I urge unions, rank & file union members & socialists to donate."

Despite Starbucks' recent pushback against the unionization effort, the movement continues to grow. Starbucks Workers United confirmed Tuesday that yet another Washington location — the Olive Way store in Seattle, sister store of the Broadway & Denny location — had filed for unionization as well, making it the seventh Seattle-area Starbucks to file for unionization. Other high-profile stores joining the effort include the company's flagship Reserve Roastery. All told, over 150 stores in 27 states across the country have filed union petitions.

In the past, Starbucks has declined to comment directly on the Seattle unionization effort, but it has broadly pushed back on unionization. In December, the company published a letter to employees at its 8,000 stores saying Starbucks did not want stores to unionize, but will respect the legal process.

>> See the Relief Fund for PNW Starbucks Workers United on GoFundMe.

Editor's note: Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.