Starbucks increases U.S. hourly wages and adds other benefits for non-union workers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR/AP

November 7, 2023 1:26 AM ET


Starbucks is increasing pay and benefits for most of its U.S. hourly workers after ending its fiscal year with record sales. But the company said Monday that unionized workers won't be eligible for some of those perks, a sign of the continuing tension between the Seattle coffee giant and the union trying to organize its U.S. stores.

At least 366 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021, according to the National Labor Relations Board. But Starbucks and the Workers United union have yet to reach a labor agreement at any of those stores. Starbucks has 9,600 company-operated stores in the U.S.

Starbucks said Monday it will increase wages — which currently average $17.50 per hour — starting Jan. 1. Employees at both union and non-union stores who have worked four years or less will get raises of 3% or 4% depending on years of service. Employees who have worked five years or more will be eligible for a 5% increase, but since that's a new benefit, it must be negotiated with Workers United and is therefore not available to unionized stores, the company said.

Workers United rejected that claim and said it will file unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks with the NLRB.


Read more: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1211131176/starbucks-increases-u-s-hourly-wages-and-adds-other-benefits-for-non-union-worke

[PatrickforB]

1. Geez. That's mighty good of 'em.

But union members won't be eligible for some of the perks.

What bullshit.

[NCIndie]

2. Are there ever any down sides to unions? They are clearly an advantage to the members.

Has a union ever destroyed an entire industry?

[justaprogressive]

3. No, though lots of unions

have been destroyed by industry!

[NCIndie]

4. I see.

Well, I guess I learned a different history of industry than you.

And let's not kid ourselves that unions exist for solely for the workers. Like any massive bureaucracy, the leaders too often take care of themselves first.

I am not suggesting that unions are bad, but they are hardly perfect.

[ret5hd]

5. Ahhh, I see...perfection is the standard for unions...

but no such standard for industry.

[NCIndie]

7. Jeebus H. Did I say that perfection was the goal?

Some people make having a civil discussion very difficult.

[ret5hd]

9. This is what makes civil discussion so difficult:

"And let's not kid ourselves that unions exist for solely for the workers. Like any massive bureaucracy, the leaders too often take care of themselves first.

I am not suggesting that unions are bad, but they are hardly perfect."

Let's analyze that...

1) I believe unions exist solely for the workers.

2) Some individuals exploiting the organization for their own gain does not negate that.

3) Please point me to ANY organizational structure that does not have the same problems. Corporations? Political parties? Religions? PTA groups? Boy Scouts?

4) To singularly mention the flaws of human nature in regards to labor unions seems to suggest that labor unions are singularly "worse" in this respect.

And as an aside, please point us to an industry that was destroyed by labor unions.

[NCIndie]

10. Ah, so you are capable of structured argument. Well stated.

Start there next time.

[ret5hd]

11. That's it??? Man...sorry to have wasted my time.

[justaprogressive]

6. Hmm "the leaders too often take care of themselves first"

Let's change that to sometimes as the above is a broad brush generalization.

Some of your statements might lead one to believe that there are some gaps in your
knowledge of labor struggles of the last 100 years...

Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good.

[NCIndie]

8. Fair enough.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. "Has a union ever destroyed an entire industry?"

See almost every "Police" union, whether it be the FOP (including "Lodge 5" here in Philly) or PBA in NY, etc.

And with respect to the latter, here is the perfect example from 30 years ago featuring someone we know well -

[mn9driver]

12. Companies with mixed Union/non Union workgroups do this all the time.

One of the best examples is Delta, where the pilots are Union but no other groups are. When new flight attendants are hired, they are told in their training class that unions only exist to take their money in dues, and that mother Delta will always take care of them—as long as they don’t vote a union in.

They are paid similarly to other flight attendant groups at other airlines, and Delta hands out raises when it looks like another union election attempt is near. Delta also takes pay, benefits and work rules away when they feel the need—no need to negotiate since there is no labor contract.

Starbucks is just doing the same thing.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

14. I don't go to Charbucks

Nasty burnt roast beans and overpriced. I prefer Dutch Brothers