Springfield Starbucks votes to unionize amid nationwide labor movement, first in region
A Springfield Starbucks voted to unionize Thursday, marking the first of the chain to unionize in southwest Missouri.
Workers at the 631 S Glenstone Ave. Starbucks won their union election by a
tally of 11-5. The National Labor Relations Board received 18 eligible ballots. Out of 18, two ballots were challenged by Starbucks attorneys.
“Knowing that we were the first to do this (in Springfield) is so empowering! Hopefully it inspires other stores in our area to fight for their rights as workers. It doesn’t feel real (that we’ve won). We’re hopeful this will show others that this is possible," reads a statement from workers at the location.
Workers at the Glenstone and Cherry street locations first filed for unionization in June and join Workers United (SEIU), the same international union backing campaigns in Buffalo, New York; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mesa, Arizona; Seattle; St. Louis; and Overland Park, Kansas.
More: Workers at Starbucks location are first in Springfield to file for unionization
John Tindle has worked for Starbucks for five years, first as a shift supervisor and now as a barista. He told the News-Leader Thursday that he was "excited about the changes unionization will bring and the message it sends" to other Starbucks locations in southwest Missouri.
"The main thing we're hoping for is a better partner experience for us and a better customer experience. Not worrying so much about the bottom line and worrying instead about making a quality product and connecting with people," he told the News-Leader.
The store joins hundreds of Starbucks locations that have unionized this year. It is the first unionized Starbucks in Springfield and the eighth Missouri Starbucks overall. In May, an Independence location was the first Missouri store to unionize in the state. Seven other Starbucks locations in the state have since unionized, including one in Kansas City and five in St. Louis.
In a statement to the News-Leader, a Starbucks spokesperson said the corporation was "listening and learning" from unionizing workers — like the ones in Springfield.
"From the beginning, we’ve been clear in our belief that we are better together as partners, without a union between us, and that conviction has not changed. We respect our partner’s right to organize and are committed to following the NLRB process," the spokesperson said.
On the same day as the Springfield location's vote, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint claiming Starbucks violates U.S. labor law by withholding pay hikes and other benefits from stores that have voted to unionize.
Tindle said there has been little union-busting in Springfield — only the promotion of some anti-union literature before Thursday's election.
Workers United International Vice President Kathy Hanshew welcomed the workers into the union.
“We are extremely proud to welcome the workers of Starbucks in Springfield into our union," she said in a statement.
More: Fired Starbucks employee says management retaliated against her for pushing union effort
"As Starbucks continues to lose their senseless war against their own workers, they will become more and more desperate, and will continue to employ such despicable tactics. However, the Starbucks bosses are no match for this new generation of union activists, and no match for a united labor movement that is steadfast in its commitment to stand with them. All power to the Starbucks workers! This is a step forward for their movement and for all workers in Missouri and the Midwest.”
Andrew Sullender is the local government reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow him on Twitter @andrewsullender. Email tips and story ideas to asullender@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Starbucks votes to unionize amid nationwide labor movement
