Crystal Lewis at The Chief Leader reports more than 380 Starbucks locations and 9,000 Employees across the country have Unionized since a store in Buffalo became the Coffee Giant’s first Branch to join Starbucks Workers United in December 2021.  However, none of them have gotten a contract so far.  Despite successful Union Campaigns at national companies including Amazon, Apple and Trader Joe’s over the last two years, none of those nascent Unions have been able to reach a Collective Bargaining Agreement.  They’re not alone: Just 36%of new Unions reach their first Labor Agreement within a year of Unionizing, according to research by Kate Bronfenbrenner, the Director of Labor Education Research at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.  Within three years, 66% of Unions manage to secure a first contract.  For Steven Buckley, a Sales Specialist who’s worked at the REI store in Soho since September 2021, at first, their Union victory in March of the following year created a sense of exuberance and of community among his colleagues.  But that feeling quickly changed when the self-styled progressive company’s alleged Anti-Union tactics - which Buckley said had abated after the Workers’ victory - began again.  In November, the Union filed 80 Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on behalf of Workers at the Unionized stores.  The grievances allege the company has unilaterally changed working conditions, including reducing Workers’ hours, retaliated against Pro-Union Employees and delayed bargaining on their first contract.  Buckley noted Workers at his store are no longer eligible to participate in the Outdoor Goods Company’s profit-sharing plan, “which the company does everywhere but here.” 

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