Starbucks
Permanently Closed
Seattle-based chain: signature roasts, light bites, WiFi
Seattle-based chain: signature roasts, light bites, WiFi
"I learned that workers at the 745 Ocean Street Starbucks location in Santa Cruz will stage a three-day strike beginning Saturday, August 13 (anticipated to run from 5:30 a.m. that day through 5:29 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16), with a noon rally planned outside the store. Organizer Joe Thompson, a Starbucks shift supervisor who remains a union member, says the stoppage responds to alleged unfair labor practices: Starbucks announced “unilateral changes to hours,” denied wage and benefit improvements based on union membership, and interfered with the union’s ability to distribute pro-union materials. The 24 unionized employees voted unanimously to stop work, and the Ocean store is the only Santa Cruz location participating in this action; Thompson says they’ve received strong support from community partners and first responders. He also notes staff intend to follow labor-law guidelines (intermittent striking is illegal) while remaining prepared to strike again — a majority also voted to authorize an indefinite strike — and that the NLRB is processing numerous charges as the company has faced negative press for what workers describe as dubious behavior toward the union over the past year." - Paolo Bicchieri
"At the Ocean Street store in Santa Cruz, an NLRB complaint alleges eight infractions accusing Starbucks of harassing, threatening, coercing, and restraining employees in violation of the NLRA. Workers there, according to Joe Thomas (a shift lead and union organizer), were reprimanded under a dress code for wearing a union hat and multiple union buttons — a practice the NLRB says violates federal law protecting the right to organize. The complaint also alleges management cut hours for pro-union employees and used one-on-one or anti-union “captive audience” meetings. As the store heads into bargaining, staff expect an administrative hearing on June 28 and may stage a rally before month’s end; organizers say these incidents reflect a broader pattern of alleged union-busting, noting that twenty employees have been fired across the country." - Paolo Bicchieri
"I reported that employees at the 745 Ocean Street Starbucks voted to form a union, making the shop—along with the Mission Street location—one of the first in California to formalize ties with Starbucks Workers United and part of the 63rd and 64th nationwide. Joe Thompson, who organizers identified as the shift supervisor at the Ocean shop, worked throughout the year on the campaign, said he’s running for State Assembly District 28 to keep the labor movement alive, and emphasized that the next priority is holding elected officials accountable; he also noted that many Bay Area workers reached out after the victory and that 19 stores in California are currently looking to unionize." - Paolo Bicchieri
"At the Ocean Street location I learned that Joe Thompson, an 18‑year‑old UC Santa Cruz student who worked there, is a lead organizer who helped lead the January 21 union card signing and was the first in California to file; Thompson says they’re confident the May 11 vote won’t be close and hopes it will be a landslide. This store is one of two Santa Cruz shops (each with 31 employees) that would be represented by Starbucks Workers United, and the union has filed unfair labor practice charges alleging managers at Santa Cruz stores, including this one, cornered employees to intimidate them — allegations now tied to an NLRB complaint that could directly affect the outcome for this location." - Paolo Bicchieri
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