In Sulphur, Louisiana, the employees of the Starbucks located at 142 S. Cities Service Hwy., have voted to unionize on Monday. This marks the fifth coffee shop in Louisiana to join the national union, Starbucks Workers United. Lizzie Harlow, a shift supervisor at the location, shared that the vote was unanimous to join the union.
Unionization efforts began in January, shortly after the store opened in November of the previous year. By February, the crew went public with their efforts and joined other Starbucks locations across the country in seeking recognition from Starbucks Corporation. However, using traditional communication methods did not lead to changes that were desired by team members prompting them to take collective action.
The Sulphur location is currently the only unionized store in the area between Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge. Despite initial concerns about receiving support from locals, employees found confidence in their decision due to their town’s history of robust and long-standing unions. The workers felt that unionizing was essential for securing better working conditions and having control over them.
Starbucks engaged with the union after a national push in February following a judge’s ruling that violated federal labor laws. In December 2023, Starbucks announced its commitment to improving relations with workers’ unions and reaching a labor agreement. Lizzie Harlow was elected as a delegate for her store and will participate in bargaining efforts with company management.
Since unionization efforts began three years ago, over 140 Starbucks stores with 10,000 employees have joined Starbucks Workers United. The hope among workers is that more Louisiana locations will follow suit recognizing that being part of a union brings structure and safety.
In conclusion, this vote marks an important step towards ensuring better working conditions for employees at this Starbucks location in Sulphur. The success of this unionization effort shows how determined workers are when it comes to protecting their rights and demanding better pay and benefits from their employers.
