Starbucks and the union covering more than 500 of its U.S. stores have agreed to bring in a mediator to help get nine months’ worth of negotiations across the finish line.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the coffee shop giant and Workers United said they have made progress but need a mediator to navigate more complicated issues.
“Starbucks and Workers United have agreed to engage a mediator to assist the two parties in reaching a framework for single-store contracts for our partners represented by the union,” the statement said. “We have made progress over the last nine months of bargaining, and we are committed to continuing to work together—with a mediator’s assistance—to navigate complex issues and reach fair contracts.”
The comments suggest at least some potential progress in contract negotiations that had stalled and ignited a five-day strike at more than 300 stores over the holidays.
The two sides are working on the framework of a deal that could be used as a contract at each of the unionized cafes, each of which are technically represented by their own union.
There had been some disagreement between the sides in the pay increase Starbucks was offering union members.
Labor activists have successfully unionized stores across the country, including one inside company headquarters, though the number still represents only about 5% of the chain’s corporate units. The unionization campaign started in Buffalo, New York, in 2021.
The campaign has seemingly played a role in management shifts at the chain, which has had four chief executives, including a brief run as interim CEO by Howard Schultz.
“Getting back to bargaining with a professional mediator involved is a positive step toward winning fair contracts for union baristas,” Michelle Eisen, a 14-year Starbucks barista and bargaining delegate for the union, said in a statement. “We are optimistic that Starbucks will move off of their fixed position on wage and benefits improvements in this next phase of negotiations.”
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