OKLAHOMA CITY – Workers at the Starbucks [SBUX] store in west Norman, at the 36th and Robinson location, have been organizing to form a union.
The workers successfully filed a petition to hold a union vote with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Thursday. There will be an election at the store in two weeks when workers vote by secret ballot on whether they will be represented by a union.
A super-majority of around 80%, 13 employees, petitioned for a union election.
‘Motivated’
Kay Black, shift supervisor at the Norman store, said, “My fellow partners and I are motivated to organize because of the lack of staffing, support, and a lack of a livable wage after many years of pleading for such.”
“As the face and heart of the company we believe we should be compensated for our hard work,” Black stated.
Some Oklahoma stores have had to deal with a de-unionization campaign brought on by an anti-union law firm. But more recently, SBUX has started to bargain in good faith. Before this positive change by SBUX, the workers of these stores dealt with harsh union-busting.
Starbucks Workers United first began unionizing in 2021 and since then has gained over 500 stores across the country in 45 states including the District of Columbia.
“With their election filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the SBUX partners at 36th and Robinson are seeking to join the more than 500 locations across the country where baristas are working together to win justice at work, including protections on core issues like respect, living wages, racial and gender equality, and fair scheduling”, said the press release from SBUX Workers United.
The process
Now that the workers at this store filed a petition to unionize, they will follow this process:
- File the petition to unionize.
- Vote in the union election.
- If successful, negotiate for a tentative agreement.
- Vote to ratify the agreement.
If the union election is successful, the store will join SBUX Workers United.
The Norman store is trying to win a couple of concessions in unionizing:
- Better staffing and support.
- A livable wage.
SBUX Workers United recently won over stores in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington, and more.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.