ALLEN PARK (WWJ) -- Friday morning, hourly workers at the Starbucks on Outer Drive in Allen Park officially petitioned for a union election.
According to Workers United, most workers at the Downriver coffee shop also signed union authorization cards. Workers United is an affiliate of the Service Empolyees International Union (SEIU) and represents workers in numerous manufacturing and service industries in the U.S. and Canada.
A Friday press release from organizer Matthew Kain shared that workers had emailed a letter to Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz, writing, "...over the years our hours have begun to be cut, new partners are not getting proper training, and management has been very unreliable."
"We are a strong team that believes a union is the right way to create changes in our workforce," the affected employees continued, "We are eager to have our voices heard and our needs respected, so that together we can co-create a family we are once again proud to be a part of."
A statement of support was also sent out by Workers United International Vice President Kathy Hanshew.
She emphasized that Starbucks is a multimillion dollar corporation that claims to treat its employees as partners.
Henshew called on Starbucks to make good on that claim and "acknowledge the voice of their 'partners' and allow their workers to unionize without interference."
There is no word yet on when the union election will be held.
At present, there are 12 unionized Starbucks stores in the state of Michigan. Across the country, Starbucks employees continue organizing with Workers United.
Related
Related
