Statement from Workers United:

This announcement makes it clear things are only going Backwards at Starbucks under Brian Niccol’s leadership. 

Yet again, we’re experiencing new policies and major decisions being made with zero barista input.

Workers United is sending a formal request for information to Starbucks about the planned closures. We expect to engage in effects bargaining for every impacted union store, as we have done elsewhere, so workers can be placed in another Starbucks store according to their preferences. 

Fixing what’s broken at Starbucks isn’t possible without centering the people who engage with the company’s customers day in and day out. Starbucks is talking a big game about cost cutting, but at the same time paid Brian Niccol $98 million last year and spent over $80 million on a glitzy managers-only conference in Las Vegas this June. 

It has never been more clear why baristas at Starbucks need the backing of a union. We’re demanding Starbucks finalize a fair union contract with 12,000 union baristas. For less than one average day’s sales, we can address the remaining items in the contract and move forward.

Press: starbucksmedia@workers-united.org