NEW JERSEY (1010 WNS) — A New Jersey Starbucks location became the first in the state to unionize Monday after a unanimous vote.
All 15 workers at the Hopewell Junction Starbucks voted in favor of organizing and celebrated the win with cheers, high-fives and group selfies, the New Jersey chapter of the American Federation of Labor said in a statement.
“We are incredibly proud of the brave and strong Starbucks workers who voted to join Workers United,” said Lynne Fox, International President of Workers United. “Our collective success in Hopewell today reflects the power that working people have to demand positive changes from their employers.”
The unionization comes after Starbucks attempted to block the campaign with “captive audience meetings, anti-union lies and propaganda, and having their hours cut to deprive them of healthcare benefits,” according to the NJFL.
In response to the alleged anti-union propaganda in Starbucks locations nationwide, Workers United has filed nearly 80 unfair labor charges against the coffee shop.
“This is a huge victory for all of us and workers everywhere,” said Starbucks employee Melissa Boltas. “It’s so wonderful to see the impact our movement has already had on our lives and the impact it will continue to have.”
The Hopewell Starbucks joins 26 other locations who voted to unionize. Across the country, 200 Starbucks locations have filed paperwork to begin the union election process.
Two other New Jersey Starbucks sites in Hamilton and Summit are in the midst of ongoing elections.
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