Starbucks will hire a strategy chief amid more bids for unionization by baristas, per The WSJ.- Starbucks' CEO previously said that the chain was "being assaulted by the threat of unionization."
Starbucks is adding a strategy chief as the group grows increasingly anxious at the pace of its cafes' unionization efforts, The Wall Street Journal $4 on Friday.
The publication reported that the
Six branches in New York State voted on Thursday and Friday to join the Starbucks Workers United
In total, The WSJ reported that more than 180 of the chain's 9,000 corporate stores had petitioned for union votes.
Starbucks did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours.
Unionization drives in the US are picking up momentum, with Amazon's workers in Staten Island, New York, $4 becoming the first to unionize. The company is $4 to appeal against the decision, however.
$4 to Starbucks Workers United, baristas are seeking improved pay, better treatment and working conditions, and a bigger say in the company's overall strategy.
Last summer, Starbucks $4 it was raising wages for its employees to a minimum of $12 an hour to come into effect from last October. In its 2021 annual $4, the company said the average hourly wage of its
Insider's Grace Dean $4in February that former and current workers said they were being mistreated by rude customers as pandemic restrictions lifted.
The hiring of a strategy chief is expected to increase dialogue between management,
In his first Town Hall meeting since being reinstated as Starbucks CEO, Schultz said Starbucks was "being assaulted by the threat of unionization." His comments were captured in a video $4 to Twitter by US labor group More Perfect Union on Monday.
Schultz also said that Starbucks would never have been able to expand in the face of unions, and that the company's pro-worker stance meant it "does not need someone in between us and our people."
A spokesperson for Starbucks said: "With Howard's return as CEO, we are deeply engaged in work to reimagine the partner (employee) and customer experience. We are excited to welcome Frank who brings deep workforce development expertise to Starbucks as a part of the efforts underway."