South Jordan Starbucks workers vote to unionize, becoming 11th union store in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Starbucks baristas at the location on South Jordan Parkway unanimously voted Monday night to unionize, becoming the 11th Starbucks location in Utah to join Starbucks Workers United.
With an 11-0 vote, the South Jordan workers joined their counterparts at the stores in Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake, Bountiful, Park City, and Cottonwood Heights that have already voted to unionize.
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“Our mission has always been to create a positive impact, both in our communities and for our partners,” the South Jordan Organizing Committee said in a statement. “Within our union, we’re empowered to amplify our voices, uphold fairness, and drive meaningful change that uplifts everyone. We encourage all workers to pursue unionizing, it’s so worth it!”
The push to organize the South Jordan Parkway store began in April, mainly in response to staffing issues.
“We’ve been forced to pretty much run skeleton crews for the past two years,” Evalece Jolley, a shift supervisor at the South Jordan location, told ABC4.
According to the union, more than 430 Starbucks stores across 43 states and the District of Columbia have successfully unionized since 2021 — more than any other company in the 21st Century.
In just the last few weeks, Starbucks workers in Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania have also voted to unionize.
Last month, union workers met in Atlanta and began discussions to reach a framework for collective bargaining agreements for represented stores and partners, the union said. The workers will return to the table later this month.
Earlier this year, Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ executive vice president, said that the coffee giant is aiming to complete bargaining and contract ratification in 2024 for stores represented by Starbucks Workers United.
“There is a lot of work ahead, but this is an important, positive step,” Kelly said, in a February statement. “It is a clear demonstration of our intent to build a constructive relationship with Workers United in the interests of our partners. I want to acknowledge and appreciate the union’s willingness to do the same.”
The first Starbucks location in Utah to unionize was the Cottonwood Heights store in 2022.
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