Starbucks The union representing baristas will resume contract talks on Wednesday, ending a long-running stalemate.
The two sides returned to the bargaining table after announcing in February that they had found a “constructive path forward” in mediation discussions related to a lawsuit over the union’s use of the Starbucks brand. It marks a significant shift for Starbucks, which has spent the past two years battling unionized workers and the broader cafe union movement.
About 500 Starbucks companies in the United States have voted to join the United Workers union since the first election in December 2021, according to a tally by the National Labor Relations Board on Monday. But those locations represent only a fraction of the total U.S. footprint, and none are close to reaching a collective bargaining agreement.
Starbucks and unions affiliated with the Service Employees International Union had previously bargained, but talks quickly reached an impasse. Both sides accused the other of sabotaging the talks.
Starbucks had previously insisted on face-to-face negotiations, with no representatives attending via Zoom. The union accused Starbucks of using the excuse as a delaying tactic. This time around 150 union representatives will be present in person to bargain, with hundreds more participating remotely outside of face-to-face meetings.
Store agreements will be negotiated and approved individually, but the union may make proposals that could affect all Starbucks employees it represents. Workers’ unions have pushed broadly for higher wages and more consistent scheduling, among a host of other priorities.
Labor law does not require employers and unions to reach a collective bargaining agreement, only that both parties negotiate in good faith. After a year, workers who have lost faith in their unions can apply for decertification, bringing a sense of urgency to negotiations.
The NLRB has 19 pending decertification petitions. The labor board rejected 18 other applications to decertify Starbucks, citing unfair labor practices.
The company said it has also been in talks with other unions representing its cafes, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is in talks for a store outside Pittsburgh.
The resumption of contract talks comes a day after another significant moment for Starbucks and the union. The company appealed to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking a lower court to grant an injunction sought by the NLRB to reinstate seven laid-off employees at a Memphis cafe.
Starbucks argued that other agencies seeking injunctions had higher thresholds for obtaining injunctions than the labor board. Experts say the Supreme Court’s final ruling could weaken the National Labor Council and labor organizations. The court is expected to announce its ruling this summer.
Starbucks may share more information about union negotiations during its quarterly earnings call. The coffee giant is expected to report results on Tuesday.
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