A Year Under Niccol: Starbucks Workers Still Struggle For A Union Contract – CoffeeTalk

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol has been criticized for his approach to the company’s union, which has been a source of bitter fighting for years. The union has accused Niccol of union-busting, retaliation, and unfair labor practices. However, more than 12,000 workers at nearly 650 Starbucks stores in the US have unionized since December 2021, the fastest-growing union campaign in modern history.

Starbucks Workers United had made progress toward securing a first union contract with the company since bargaining sessions began in early 2024. However, this progress has largely stalled since Niccol took over the company. His first year on the job began with implementing a new strategy called “Back to Starbucks,” which emphasized customer service, decreasing wait times for orders, and improving in-store experiences.

A survey conducted by Starbucks Workers United and the Strategic Organizing Center of 737 Starbucks workers found that 91% reported understaffing at their stores in the past three months, and 93% said the policy changes under Niccol either had no impact or worsened the customer experience. Starbucks Workers United spokesperson Michelle Eisen stated that “Back to Starbucks” is not working and won’t succeed until a fair union contract with hours, take-home pay, and protections baristas need to do their jobs is finalized.

Barista Jasmine Leli, a Starbucks barista since December 2021, warns that Starbucks can expect further actions from unionized workers to force the company to get back to the bargaining table. The union has frequently utilized strikes and protests to address specific issues at stores. Leli believes that they will do whatever it takes to get Starbucks back to the table to address wages, scheduling, and staffing issues.

In conclusion, the most successful corporate union drive in recent history has been stymied by the ongoing struggle between Starbucks workers and the company’s management.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol’s exorbitant compensation has been a point of criticism for workers and labor advocates. In 2024, Niccol received $97.8m in total compensation, 6,666 times more than the median annual salary of a Starbucks worker at $14,674. This is the biggest CEO-to-worker pay gap among the top 500 corporations in the US. Starbucks claimed its average compensation, including benefits for workers who work at least 20 hours a week, is $30 an hour.

Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on social media in March, criticizing Starbucks for refusing to give union workers a decent raise to pay rent and buy groceries. A spokesperson for Starbucks said that the company believes Niccol has established himself as one of the most effective leaders in the industry, with a proven track record of delivering long-term value to employees, customers, and shareholders. The majority of his reported first-year compensation reflects multi-year replacement equity grants, awarded to offset compensation forfeited upon his departure from Chipotle, which are now directly tied to Starbucks future performance.

Starbucks Workers United has criticized Niccol’s pay, his private jet use, and the $81m spent by Starbucks on a June convention in Las Vegas for 14,000 store managers and other leaders. The union claims it would take less than what Brian made in four months to settle fair contracts with their union.

In December 2024, thousands of baristas at Starbucks stores around the US went on strike, the largest strike in the company’s history, after the union claimed Starbucks backtracked on an agreement to finalize a deal. In April 2025, the union rejected a proposal from Starbucks for 2% pay increases, with 81% of unionized stores voting it down due to its failure to adequately address other economic benefits and provide an immediate pay hike.

Starbucks Workers United has continued growing to 648 unionized stores, from 500 stores in September 2024.

Read More @ The Guardian