Starbucks workers have voted to form their first U.S. union.
Workers from at least one store in Buffalo, N.Y., voted to unionize, in a watershed moment for Starbucks, which operates 8,953 stores in the U.S.
Three Buffalo-area stores held separate union elections. Baristas and shift supervisors from one store voted to unionize 19-to-8, while staff from the second store rejected unionization 12-to-8. Ballots from the third store are still being hand-counted by a federal labor official.
The election marks one of the highest-profile union wins for U.S. restaurant workers, which are among the least unionized in the country. Starbucks workers that unionize will join Workers United, affiliated with the massive Service Employees International Union.
Starbucks has promoted its reputation as a progressive employer with generous benefits, arguing that a union is not necessary.
In fact, Starbucks previously fought off organizing attempts in New York City and Philadelphia. But last year, workers at a Starbucks store in Canada unionized. And now, three additional locations in the Buffalo-area and one in Arizona are pursuing a union.
"I think a unionized Starbucks restaurant will demonstrate to workers ... that it's not easy, but they can do it," said Rebecca Givan, a labor studies professor at Rutgers University. "We will likely see many, many more organizing drives."
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