Workers at Starbucks Roastery second in Seattle and on Capitol Hill to unionize

Employees at the Starbucks Roastery in Capitol Hill, Seattle, voted 38-27 to unionize, making it the second Starbucks in the city to do so. The National Labor Relations Board certified the vote, involving over 100 eligible workers. This unionization aligns with a growing movement across the U. S. to organize labor at major corporations, particularly in the wake of the pandemic and rising demands for better working conditions.

The roastery employees will be represented by Starbucks Workers United and will enter a collective bargaining process with the company. Critics accuse Starbucks of attempting to thwart unionization through disinformation and retaliatory practices, with ten unfair labor practice complaints filed against Seattle stores since 2022. District 3 representative Kshama Sawant supports the labor movement, having organized a rally in Cal Anderson Park to protest against union-busting efforts. Smaller businesses in the area are also experiencing similar unionization trends, including Crossroads Trading and Elliott Bay Book Company. This growing labor movement highlights a significant shift in workplace dynamics and employee expectations.