Unionization of Starbucks Employees at Port Jefferson Store

Workers at the Starbucks store in Port Jefferson have made history by becoming the latest Long Island employees to unionize. The Port Jefferson Starbucks workers voted 10-1 to join the Starbucks Workers United union, making it the eighth Starbucks on Long Island to do so.

In their petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the workers at the Port Jefferson store cited the need for higher starting pay, fair scheduling, improved benefits, and a safe workplace. They expressed their desire for open dialogue, fair treatment, and collaborative problem-solving within the company.

The unionization efforts come after a week of bargaining between the company and the union. Starbucks spokesperson Rachel Wall expressed the company’s respect for the rights of partners to organize and bargain collectively, with hopes of reaching ratified agreements for represented stores in 2024.

Ryan Grabowski, a Starbucks worker in Port Jefferson, emphasized the importance of solidarity in achieving better working conditions to provide the “Starbucks experience” to the community. Since the union movement began in December 2021, there are now over 10,000 union Starbucks workers in more than 435 union stores across 43 states and Washington D.C.

The Starbucks union is affiliated with Philadelphia-based Workers United, marking a significant milestone in the fight for fair treatment and improved working conditions for Starbucks employees nationwide. The unionization of the Port Jefferson store highlights the growing momentum of the movement and the collective efforts of workers to advocate for their rights.