EUGENE, Ore. — The Starbucks store located on Willamette Street in South Eugene is the first in Oregon to successfully unionize.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the employees voted in favor of unionizing with Workers United.
“I think the momentum is clearly on the side of the workers right now,” said union organizer Alex Riccio. “It’s inspiring; it’s motivating when workers see that it’s possible to form a union and win despite the odds.”
Barista Jake LaMourie and Shift Supervisor Bex Littleton work at the South Eugene location and said they were inspired to unionize after seeing headlines about the first Starbucks to unionize in Buffalo, New York.
“The Buffalo thing got everyone kind of started on it, but I had a day when I was working when it was a holiday and we get time and a half. I remember a customer was like, ‘You did all that without a union,'” said Littleton. “Another person who worked here was like, ‘That’s it, I’m tired of this.'”
LaMourie and Littleton said they’re excited their location is the first in the state to unionize.
In the coming months, the seven other Eugene locations and eight locations in the Portland area are also voting to unionize.
“I almost have a little bit of extra pride Eugene did it before Portland,” said LaMourie. “After we filed, they all popped up and said they were thinking about it too.”
LaMourie and Littleton said there were a number of reasons they considered unionizing.
“I think with Starbucks, it’s this weird dissonance that exists,” said LaMourie. “The corporate language is we’re here for you, we listen to you, we care. But then the behavior is otherwise.”
Littleton also weighed in.
“They’ll also be like very pro-LGBTQ, pro Black Lives Matter, all these big ideas that you would think unionizing would be in that area too but they’re like, ‘Not that,'” said Littleton.
There is still work to be done. Negotiations for a contract could take months or years.
LaMourie and Littleton said they’ve been communicating with Workers United to get training on bargaining.
Juan Carlos Ordonez is the communications director for Oregon Center for Public Policy, a research institute to generate more opportunities for Oregonians. He said this historic unionization is a step forward for other workers in fast food chains to get inspiration.
“Historically, unions built the middle class,” said Ordonez. “I imagine many are looking at this example and seeing it is possible to unionize fast food places and restaurants, and in the leisure and hospitality industry, which is really key.”
Starbucks did give KEZI a statement saying:
“We will become the best version of Starbucks by co-creating our future directly as partners. We will strengthen the Starbucks community by upholding each others’ dreams, upholding the standards and rituals of the company, celebrating partner individuality and voice, and upholding behaviors of mutual respect and dignity.”