Starbucks' Seattle Reserve Roastery Votes To Unionize

SEATTLE — One of Starbucks' most-esteemed Seattle stores is now a union shop as well. After filing to join Starbucks Workers United in mid-February, Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery employees on Thursday voted 38 to 27 in favor of joining the union.

“This vote signals something that the Roastery organizers always knew to be true. That the bonds we share between workers are our greatest strength. We can resist and thrive, even among a storm of disinformation and fear-mongering perpetrated against our best interests,” said Brennen Collins, a partner from the Seattle Roastery.

The roastery can be found in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, and is one of only three flagship Starbucks in the nation. The Starbucks Roastery in New York City also recently joined Workers United. The Seattle roastery is now the 26th store to join the union, and the second in Seattle. The first was the store at Broadway & Denny, which voted to unionize late last month.

“This is the beginning of reclaiming our human rights to financial and emotional security. Amongst a wave of intimidation and disinformation, we kept our heads held high and forged a new path together,” said Mark Maddaloni, another Seattle partner.

The unionization of a flagship Starbucks location is a major win for Starbucks Workers United, especially in the face of the coffee-giant's aggressive anti-union efforts. Pacific Northwest Starbucks Workers United says that Starbucks has begun hitting local employees "with a vicious union-busting campaign", accusing the company of slashing workers hours in a bid to leave them financially dependent on the company, and prevent them from using collective action. Employees have launched a public fundraiser to counter those efforts. Workers United has also filed nearly 80 Unfair Labor Practice charges against the company.

"We cannot truly be partners until we are seen as equals, and through our strength and determination, we are making that happen whether Starbucks likes it or not,” said Elizabeth Duran, a Seattle partner. “Everyone deserves to have their voices heard, and no voice is louder than workers across the nation banding together for a better future. Seattle is ready for this and so too is the nation.”

The Starbucks union effort began in Buffalo, N.Y. but has rapidly spread across the country. To date, more than 200 stores across the country have filed to join Workers United. Among those are six Seattle-area Starbucks locations, including the now-unionized Roastery and Broadway & Denny location.