Seattle Starbucks roastery workers unionize

SEATTLE — In a 38-to-27 vote, workers at a flagship Seattle Starbucks roastery unionized on Thursday.

It is the coffee chain’s latest location to form a collective bargaining unit.

The roastery is also one of only three flagship stores in the United States and it has joined a roastery in New York that also voted to unionize.

“This vote signals something that the Roastery organizers always knew to be true. That the bonds we share between workers are our greatest strength. We can resist and thrive, even among a storm of disinformation and fearmongering perpetrated against our best interests,” said Brennen Collins, a partner from the Seattle Roastery.

The Starbucks Reserve and Roastery in Capitol Hill is the coffee chain’s second to unionize in Seattle.

The first store to unionize in Seattle is located at Broadway and Denny Way.

“We look forward to entering the bargaining process with the welfare of our partners at the forefront of negotiations,” said Seattle partner Melissa Slabaugh. “Starbucks has repeatedly said they will bargain in good faith, so let them show their intent through actions rather than words.”

Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges said in a statement that “As we have said throughout, we will respect the process and will bargain in good faith. We hope the union does the same.”

According to a news release from Workers United, more than 200 stores across the U.S. have already filed petitions to join the union.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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