Starbucks, Union Reach Tentative Agreements for Job Protections

Starbucks Corp. and Starbucks Workers United have reached several tentative agreements covering guardrails for worker firings and information sharing.

The coffee giant and union announced the pacts on Friday as part of their ongoing talks in Chicago to establish a “framework” for each unionized store to build their individual collective bargaining agreements.

The agreements focus on issues including “partner accountability,” protections requiring “just cause” for terminations, education for workers seeking union representation, and the sharing of worker information between the company and the union, according to a joint statement.

They come after several years of Starbucks’ aggressive opposition to its workers unionizing, which has generated hundreds of unfair labor practice proceedings at the National Labor Relations Board and in federal courts. Starbucks signaled a major shift in its labor strategy in late February when the company joined the union in announcing plans to hash out a “foundational framework” designed to secure collective bargaining agreements and resolve litigation.

Starbucks Workers United has organized more than 400 stores since 2021, but the union hasn’t reached any labor deals with the company.

The talks involved over 400 workers who were elected as delegates or caucus members from unionized cafes across the nation.

“We are pleased that the matters discussed were grounded in the needs and concerns of both the company and union-represented partners,” the joint statement said. “We are proud of our progress to date. The work together continues, and we look forward to continued negotiations.”

A spokesperson for the parties declined to provide more details about the tentative agreements.