Starbucks baristas in Burbank became the sixth location in Los Angeles County to unionize after winning their election to join the national union.
“My partners and I now look forward with determination and renewed passion to the work we enjoy doing in our store every day,” said barista Rhett Curry. “After all, it’s not a business that adds value to your city, it’s a community nourished by the people who live and work there every day.”
Curry and others become the latest of 450 stores to join Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 10,500 employees nationwide.
“We are so excited to join Starbucks Workers United and amplify our voices with other Starbucks partners to achieve fair pay, consistent hours and better working conditions,” said Supervisor Allie Leslie.
Workers in Santa Clarita have also voted to join the union in recent weeks. California currently has 39 union shops. Starbucks Workers United represents workers in 44 states and the District of Columbia.
“At Starbucks, we believe that our direct relationship as partners is at the core of the experiences we create in our stores, and we respect our partners’ right to have a choice about unionization,” a spokesperson for Starbucks said in a statement. “We are committed to delivering on our promise to provide a bridge to a better future for all Starbucks partners.”
