Shops at Atlas Park Starbucks Workers In Queens Vote To Unionize

QUEENS, NY — Baristas at the Starbucks location in Shops at Atlas Park in Queens voted 19-1 this week to join Starbucks Workers United, according to the union.

The Queens workers are joining a nationwide organizing effort that includes more than 12,000 baristas at more than 700 Starbucks stores across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

The union says workers are seeking improved staffing and hours, higher take-home pay and stronger workplace protections.

“We voted to join Starbucks Workers United because we believe the partners who keep this store running every day deserve a seat at the table,” Salma said, shift supervisor and partner of nearly two years. “We care deeply about our store, our customers, and each other, and we’re coming together to make sure partners are heard, supported, treated with the respect we deserve.”

Starbucks Workers United says baristas and the company have reached more than 30 tentative agreements on various issues, while hundreds of unfair labor practice cases remain unresolved. The union is calling for a finalized contract addressing pay, scheduling and other workplace concerns.

"As a partner coming in, I saw the company lose focus of the partners at the heart of creating that warm connection with our customers,” Mia (she/her), shift supervisor and partner of nearly two years, said.

“We deserve better. I’m proud to stand alongside tens of thousands of baristas nationwide as we fight for a better future at Starbucks not just for ourselves, but for all the partners coming after us. We won our voice — now it’s time to use it.”