FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Baristas and shift supervisors at the MLK location petitioned for their union election in early December, and the National Labor Relations Board held the election at the Café on January 12th, where 19 workers voted.
The MLK store will be the second store in the state to have won its election.
The workers in the store cited reduced hours and hostile management as the reason for their efforts to unionize. The company slashed hours all around the country in the new year.
The workers have elected to be represented by Workers United and hope to see Starbucks begin bargaining as soon as possible.
Starbucks has refused to bargain with any union stores thus far, and the NLRB has filed hundreds of Unfair Labor Practice charges against the company.
This Union win comes just 2 months after the Wedington Location in Fayetteville won the 1st election in Arkansas.
Dozens of other stores in the state are working to follow the same path toward Unionization.
This win also comes just 1 month after both the Wedington location and the MLK location went on a 3-day strike to protest the company’s refusal to bargain and their retaliation against unionized Cafés.
“I am so happy to see more Cafes joining our efforts to unionize. The strength is really in the numbers when it comes to organized labor. The partners and I at the Wedington location are ready to welcome our partners at MLK to our union!” Says Dylan Hartsfield, a Shift Supervisor at the Unionized Wedington location.
“I’m proud to be part of a movement focused on changing Starbucks for the better and giving partners that work here a voice that won’t be ignored.” Said Aidan Brennan, a barista at the Unionized MLK location.
“It's time we stand up and put partners at our core again.” Said Jo Cavness, a shift supervisor.
“We’ve had a lot of changes take place in our store since we petitioned an election, there have been managers in our store every week listening to us to get these changes. Winning this election is a huge step in forming a true partnership in our workplace," said Kendra Gilman, another shift supervisor.
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