The Starbucks corporation wants to begin negotiating labor contracts with Ann Arbor area stores that have voted to unionize.
To date, five Starbucks locations in the Ann Arbor area have voted to unionize. The Seattle-based coffee chain sent letters out to 234 unionized stores across the nation, with negotiations expected to begin later this month.
Sasha Anisimova is a Starbucks Workers United organizer and a former barista at the Glencoe Crossing location. She says these negotiations are historic for workers.
“How the workers should be treated, the safety standards, things that don’t usually exist in the food service industry. I can’t wait to see those finally get put on paper, as we come to an agreement of what’s acceptable treatment at work.”
Anisimova says the goal is to begin with non-economic proposals, such as safety, discrimination, and dress code.
Starbucks said in a statement they look forward to good faith negotiations with every unionized store.
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