Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The cheers went up one year ago inside the offices of Starbucks Workers United in Buffalo and the vote to unionize would reverberate across the nation in a sweeping organized labor effort.
Starbucks workers at a store here in Buffalo went against the odds and voted to unionize, a first for the 50-year-old coffee retailer in the U.S. At least 257 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late last year, according to the National Labor Relations Board.
One year later, as their efforts continue without a contract, dozens of Starbucks workers gathered in Niagara Square to rally and make it clear they're not letting up and will continue to pursue contracts at their unionized stores.
"This sent shockwaves all over our region, all over the country, in fact, all over the world," said Richard Lipsitz, President Emeritus of the WNY AFL-CIO. "One year ago marked the beginning of the struggle," said Lipsitz as he participated in the noisy rally.
Starbucks and the union have begun contract talks at 53 stores, with 13 additional sessions scheduled, Starbucks Workers United said. No agreements have been reached so far.
"It is clear that Starbucks is determined to crush the campaign," Lipsitz said. "This campaign is bigger than the struggle at one or several Starbucks in the Buffalo area."
Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, has been a supporter of Starbucks Workers United and has hosted leaders of the group on Capitol Hill for hearings on the issue. "These young baristas are being harassed," said Higgins after participating in the rally Friday. "This is all about collective bargaining, it's all about fair wages, it's all about safe working conditions," he said. "That's what we want for everybody."
In August, a federal judge ruled that Starbucks had to reinstate seven union organizers who were fired in Memphis, Tennessee. A similar case in Buffalo has yet to be decided, while a federal judge ruled against the NLRB in a case in Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Starbucks has asked the NLRB to temporarily suspend all union elections at its U.S. stores, citing allegations from a board employee that regional officials improperly coordinated with union organizers. A decision in that case is pending.
The unionization effort started by Starbucks workers in Buffalo has spread not only to hundreds of other Starbucks locations, but has now expanded into other service employers, noted Higgins.
"Amazon, architectural firms, for the first time are organizing in New York City," said Higgins. "I think they're largely inspired by the work they've seen of these young, composed, committed, compassionate people."
Workers from the Lexington Co-Op locations in Buffalo participated in the rally as well as they are currently attempting to unionize with voting now underway.
