Montclair Starbucks Workers Unionize, Join 3 Other Stores In NJ

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A wave of unionization that has been taking place at Starbucks locations across the United States has officially arrived in Montclair, New Jersey.

On Wednesday, Starbucks workers at the Montclair-Church Street location became the fourth store in New Jersey to unionize. They are represented by Workers United, a collective of workers who have organized other Starbucks locations across the nation, including the Hopewell store – the first to unionize in the Garden State. Other Starbucks locations in New Jersey that have seen successful union campaigns include stores in Hamilton and Summit.

The Montclair effort involves a group of workers at the 40 South Park Street store, who cited "understaffing, poorly working equipment and improper training" as some of the reasons they sought to form a union. Read More: Montclair Starbucks Workers Are Trying To Unionize; Here's Why

The vote-by-mail took place among all full-time and regular part-time baristas and shift supervisors at the store who were working as of June 26. It did not include store managers, confidential employees, office clerical employees, managerial employees, professional employees, guards or supervisors.

Montclair Church Street SBUX Workers United tweeted the following message from workers on Wednesday:

“It is with a full and excited heart that we can shout to the rooftops, ‘WE DID IT!’ We have finally unionized our store and we want to stop to appreciate all the hard work from the baristas here as well as our support system and solidarity from others … we truly appreciate it.”

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO – which announced the vote results on Thursday – praised the Montclair baristas for their “historic, worker-led campaign.”

According to the New Jersey AFL-CIO:

“Unions help level the playing field between employees and employers. Starbucks workers nationally want more say in their wages, hours, and working conditions. Instead of treating them with respect, the company under CEO Howard Schultz has engaged in a union-busting campaign and retaliation against workers. Starbucks has been conducting captive audience meetings, spreading anti-union lies and propaganda, and cutting hours to deprive employees of healthcare benefits. Despite Starbucks union-busting, the workers at the Montclair-Church Street location and nationally have continued to file for and win union elections.”

Nationally, more than 260 Starbucks retail locations have filed paperwork with the NLRB to begin the union election process since the organizing campaign began in August 2021. More than 140 Starbucks locations have voted for unionization throughout the country, the New Jersey AFL-CIO noted.

The Montclair Starbucks workers have seen support from Mayor Sean Spiller, who also serves as the president of the state’s largest teacher union.

"I stand firmly with the employees of Starbucks as they seek to exercise their right to organize," Spiller previously told Patch.

"Unions are a driving force that benefit the lives of workers, the companies that employ them, and the economy as a whole," Spiller added. "If Starbucks can rake in billions in profits, it can afford to pay employees fairly and work with them to improve their working conditions."

• See related article: Starbucks Unions In NJ? 26 Legislators Support Effort So Far

Reached for comment about the Montclair workers' union petition in July, a Starbucks spokesperson told Patch that the company is "listening and learning from the partners in these stores – as we always do across the country."

"From the beginning, we've been clear in our belief that we are better together as partners, without a union between us, and that conviction has not changed," the spokesperson continued. "We've also been clear that we respect our partners legal right to organize and will bargain in good faith with the stores that vote to be represented by the union."

The spokesperson shared a passage from CEO Howard Schultz’s April letter to workers, where he wrote:

"We will become the best version of Starbucks by co-creating our future directly as partners. And we will strengthen the Starbucks community by upholding each other's dreams; upholding the standards and rituals of the company; celebrating partner individuality and voice; and upholding behaviors of mutual respect and dignity."

Starbucks also offered Patch some comments about the points made in the Montclair workers' petition, as well as the pay and benefits available to them:

BARGAINING IN GOOD FAITH - "We respect our partners' voices and their votes. As we promised to do, we are bargaining in good faith with the stores that chose to be represented by Workers United."

GROWING TOGETHER - "Our national and regional leaders are working with humility, deep care, and urgency to create the kind of store environment that partners and customers expect of Starbucks. As we have for 50 years, we are committed to growing together and taking action when we need to create the very best experience for all who connect with our brand."

WAGE, BENEFIT INVESTMENTS - "Starbucks is committed to remaining an employer of choice, offering tailored employee benefits and rewards, as well as competitive pay in each jurisdiction, resulting in total rewards offerings that vary from country to country. In fiscal 2021, Starbucks continued to invest in our partners, making one of the most substantial wage investments in the company's history. The investment increased pay rates, boosting the premium we already paid to exceed minimum wage in every market. We know our success is best when shared, which is why we also provide yearly stock grants to all our partners so that they can share in the success of the company. In fiscal year 2021, Bean Stock participants (non-executive partners) realized approximately $132 million in pre-tax gains from previously granted Bean Stock awards."

MORE PAY BOOSTS - "Building on substantial wage and benefit investments throughout the pandemic, we announced another significant investment last year to recognize and reward tenured partners while also ensuring all partners earn at least $15/hour in Summer 2022. In addition to raising the floor to at least $15/hour, partners with two or more years of service could receive up to a 5% raise and partners with five or more years could receive up to a 10% raise. This investment culminates a total of approximately $1 billion in incremental investments in annual wages and benefits over the last two years. By next month, average pay for all U.S. hourly partners will be nearly $17/hr. Hourly rates will range based on market and tenure and range from $15 to $23/ hr."

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