Chicago Starbucks workers join union

Baristas becomes first unionized employees outside New York City

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updated 7:43 p.m. ET Aug. 30, 2006

CHICAGO - The union representing Starbucks Corp. workers said Wednesday that employees of a Chicago store have declared their membership, becoming the first unionized employees outside New York City of the world’s largest coffee chain.

The baristas at the Logan Square Starbucks store joined the IWW Starbucks Workers Union Tuesday night, the union said. They issued a set of demands that included a living wage, guaranteed work hours and the reinstatement of IWW baristas fired for organizing activity.

Starbucks often is lauded for offering generous benefits that include health insurance for part-time workers. But the 2-year-old union, which has members at seven Starbucks locations, contends that workers face low wages and barriers to health care and other benefits.

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Seattle-based Starbucks did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

In March, Starbucks settled an unfair labor practice charge the union filed with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of violating federal law by creating a national policy prohibiting workers from sharing written union information or wearing buttons.

The company admitted no wrongdoing in its settlement, but was forced to post at three stores named in the complaint detailed notices explaining workers’ rights to organize. It also offered two workers their jobs back and gave three employees back pay totaling less than $2,000.