In a Sept. 24 letter responding to a welcome from Starbucks Workers United — the union representing 10,500 associates in more than 490 stores — Starbucks’ freshly brewed Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol wrote: “I deeply respect the right of partners to choose, through a fair and democratic process, to be represented by a union.”
It’s the latest sign of the retailer’s growing acceptance of unionization: After agreeing on a framework for moving forward in February 2024, Starbucks and the union reported “significant progress” following a meeting in April 2024. Niccol’s stance represents quite a shift; as recently as May 2023, Starbucks had insisted on negotiating with each unionized store individually, rather than bargaining with the union for workers in all the stores it represents.
Niccol, who took over as Starbucks CEO earlier this month, has been unusually candid about the coffee giant’s shortcomings. In a Sept. 10 letter to employees he admitted that the retailer isn’t “always delivering” the great coffee and superlative customer service the company prides itself on.
In his more recent letter, Niccol added: “Our incredible team of green apron partners is the heart of the company. I am committed to empowering them to take care of our customers every time, with the tools and time to craft the great drinks our customers expect. I’ve been clear that my goal is to make Starbucks the best place to work for every partner, in every store. This means creating a great work environment, offering strong career opportunities and providing a clear path to growth.”
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The Sept. 23 letter from the union to Niccol provided a brief history of the company’s often contentious unionization process, which began three years ago with organizing efforts by Starbucks baristas in Buffalo, N.Y.: “Since then, our movement has captured the hearts and minds of supporters all over the world, including with union victories in 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia — the biggest scale of organizing in the 21st century.”
Noting that both sides have already engaged in “hundreds of hours of bargaining and countless hours of preparation for each session,” the union’s letter said that “we have established a productive working relationship grounded in good faith and professionalism. Our teams also continue to make progress toward settling all outstanding litigation, which includes tens of millions in outstanding legal liabilities.”
In concluding his response letter, Niccol wrote: “We are committed to continue to bargain in good faith with you and your teams and make progress together. Thank you for your commitment to help build a stronger Starbucks for the future.”
