When we first started the union drive in my store, we got together a wide layer of workers into an organizing committee. Source: Lessons Learned as a First-Time Organizer In order to have an honest discussion about our strategy going forward, we need to have an honest picture of where things currently stand. I have found that most workers are not aware of these numbers, which is a problem. This was down to just under 40 in May, 14 in July, and only 8 in August. The number of stores that have filed for a union election has declined dramatically month-to-month from its peak of 70 in March. But when I look at the numbers of our campaign, I see that there’s a real danger we’re headed for defeats if we don’t change course soon. When other workers and I raise concerns, we are told by SBWU leaders that what we’re doing is working so we just need to stay the course. However, we can’t just point to this, we have to take stock of the defeats, shortcomings, and challenges ahead as well. Although only 3% of stores have unionized now, there have already been countless examples of heroic and inspiring organizing done by workers as part of our movement. Our union needs a major change in direction if it’s going to go up against a ruthless corporation like Starbucks and win a union for all of the nearly 400,000 workers at 9,000 stores. And now, with my store closed, a tied election (which means no legal union recognition), and no recourse but to protest for my job, I have learned many lessons and have come to believe that there are many things our movement nationally should be doing differently. I have been involved with the Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) campaign since January of 2022 and I have worked at Starbucks for almost four years. My store was one of the first 25 Starbucks locations in the country to petition for a union. While informing my former customers about what really happened at my store and chatting with other workers at the protest, I have spent time thinking about the lessons I’ve learned from my experience as a first-time organizer. Our union, Starbucks Workers United, must start organizing towards coordinated action at a scale not yet seen if we are going to have a fighting chance going into the fall. As we go into Starbucks’ busiest and most profitable time of the year, workers will continue to be stretched thin as Starbucks continues to escalate their anti-union campaign. Lead organizers have been fired, many still with no recourse. Starbucks has shut down many locations across the country under the guise of “safety and security” with over 40% of those stores being unionizing shops (very disproportionate considering only 3% of stores are unionizing). Many of my coworkers, the ones who weren’t already directly involved with the organizing, were having this clarity for the first time, understanding that the only way to defend against these attacks was to organize with their fellow workers. We knew we had to stand together to fight back. We didn’t take this lying down, but immediately organized a picket line. They announced this in a meeting of workers minutes before shuttering the store. Big companies have always relied on the tactic of closing stores, denying benefits and forcing workers into intimidating one-on-one meetings to stop organizing in its tracks by confusing and demoralizing workers. This was union busting pure and simple, and my co-workers and I launched four days of protests in response. In August, the Kansas City Starbucks bosses went on the offensive and shut down my location permanently, citing “safety and security” concerns. By Josh Crowell, Kansas City Starbucks Worker
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