Starbucks and the union that represents its baristas will resume contract negotiations on Wednesday, ending a prolonged impasse.
The two sides’ return to the bargaining table follows their announcement in February that they had found a “constructive path forward” in mediation discussions related to the dispute over the union’s use of the Starbucks brand. It marked a major turning point for Starbucks, which had spent the previous two years battling Workers United and the broader movement to unionize its cafes.
In the United States, about 500 company-owned Starbucks have voted to unionize under Workers United since the first election in December 2021, according to a tally from the National Labor Relations Board, released Monday. But none of these sites, which represent only a small fraction of the total U.S. footprint, are close to a collective bargaining agreement.
Starbucks and the union, affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, have previously met to negotiate, but those negotiations quickly ended in an impasse. Both sides have accused each other of sabotaging the negotiations.
Starbucks had previously insisted on face-to-face negotiations, without any representatives showing up via Zoom. The union accused Starbucks of using the excuse as a delaying tactic. It is unclear whether all representatives will appear in person during the final round of negotiations.
Store agreements will be negotiated and ratified separately, but the union could make proposals that could affect all of the Starbucks workers it represents. Workers United has widely pushed for higher wages and more consistent schedules, among a range of other priorities.
Labor law does not require that the employer and the union enter into a collective agreement, only that both negotiate in good faith. After a year, workers who lose confidence in the union can ask to be removed, slowing down negotiations.
The NLRB has 19 petitions awaiting decertification. Citing Starbucks’ unfair labor practices, the labor board rejected 18 other requests to revoke certification.
The company said it is also negotiating with other unions that represent its cafes, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is negotiating for a store outside Pittsburgh.
The resumption of contract negotiations comes on the heels of another important moment for both Starbucks and the unions. On Tuesday, the company appeared before the Supreme Court to appeal a lower court’s approval of an injunction sought by the NLRB to reinstate seven workers fired at a Memphis coffee shop.
Starbucks argued that other agencies seeking injunctions have a higher threshold for obtaining one than the labor board. Experts said the Supreme Court’s final ruling could weaken the NLRB — and unions. The court is expected to make its decision this summer.
Starbucks may say more about union negotiations during its quarterly earnings conference call. The coffee giant is expected to report its results on Tuesday.
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