Employees of the Starbucks in the Knox Road shopping center voted unanimously in mid-December to join Starbucks Workers United, the coffee chain’s union.
The location is the 11th Starbucks in Maryland since 2021 to join the union, which represents 12,000 baristas at 500 stores nationwide, according to the union.
In a letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, employees said they joined the union “to protect ourselves and protect the company’s values. … We have seen a disparity between the partners who work on the floor and the management who make decisions, and we believe it’s time to close that gap.”
The union has said Starbucks stores are understaffed; pay low wages; offer unpredictable work schedules and unaffordable healthcare, and engage in harassment and unfair discipline.—Sharon O’Malley