CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Workers at the world’s largest Starbucks — the Chicago Reserve Roastery — have rejected a bid to unionize.
The vote was 90 to join the union and 119 against it, after an on-site election at the five-story roastery located on the Mag Mile, according to a corporate statement released Saturday.
The Sun-Times reported that workers who didn’t want unionization said the campaign hurt the relationship between management and staff, with one barista calling it a very difficult and unfortunate time.
Workers United, an affiliate of Service Employees International, blamed the results on what it calls an “unprecedented and aggressive anti-union campaign” by Starbucks.
A spokeswoman said workers at the Chicago Roastery clearly noted what she described as the union’s track record of not showing up for bargaining and failing to fulfill campaign promises. She pointed to 17 petitions across the country to decertify from the union.
Workers United has filed an unfair labor practices claim and accused Starbucks of holding intimidating meetings with employees.
The 35,000-square-foot space, which opened in 2019, was the third Reserve location in the United States. Employees at the two other locations, in Seattle and New York City, voted to unionize.
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