Starbucks Workers United organizes 700th store

The union is growing and netting wins for baristas despite Starbucks’ continued anti-worker, union-busting tactics

SEATTLE, WA (June 2, 2026) — Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) surpassed an impressive milestone in May, with more than 12,000 workers at more than 700 stores across the U.S. now part of the union. It’s a sign that workers’ interest in union representation continues to grow, even as Starbucks engages in one of the most profound union-busting campaigns in modern history.

The recently organized stores that pushed SBWU over the 700 mark are in Alabama, Illinois, and Texas.

The company has recently been in the news for laying off hundreds of corporate workers and opening a regional corporate office in Nashville, snatching up $30 million in taxpayer dollars in Tennessee. That corporate welfare and Starbucks labor practices have drawn scrutiny from across the political spectrum, with conservative groups questioning why a multibillion dollar company needs public funds–especially as it slashes jobs and closes stores–and more than half of the 40-person Nashville Metro Council signing a letter raising concerns over Starbucks’ well documented pattern of labor law violations.

Photo: SBWU

Meanwhile, workers continue to pressure Starbucks to settle a fair contract. The union estimates that agreeing to their economic proposals would cost the company about a day’s profits.

But SBWU has still netted wins for workers even as the company stonewalls in negotiations.

In the spring, Starbucks abruptly closed five stores in the Seattle area–four of them union–laying off nearly 70 workers. SBWU successfully pressured the company to bargain the effects of those closures. Impacted unionized baristas eight secured weeks of pay and benefits for impacted partners, an 40-84 hours of severance pay, a lump sum payment equal to three months of COBRA premium payments, full payout of all accrued tips and vacation time, and eligibility for transfers and rehire under existing transfer policies and processes.

“These measures are a result of collective actions led by baristas and their union,” said SBWU in a statement. “Without the backing of a union, workers have no individual recourse to management’s decisions. In this case and in others, union Starbucks baristas were able to fight for and win added protections, economic security and direct compensation because they were united in Starbucks Workers United.”

“Now, union Starbucks baristas in Seattle and beyond remain focused on driving forward their historic organizing campaign as they continue to win real improvements on the job and fight for a fair union contract.”