Starbucks Baristas Are Unionizing—And the Company’s Hiring Spree Just Made Things Interesting
So here’s the thing about Starbucks right now—they’re hiring like crazy. Like, 30,000 new baristas kind of crazy. After two years of pandemic weirdness, everyone’s rushing back for their oat milk lattes, and the company’s scrambling to keep up. But that’s not even the juiciest part. Workers United—the union behind all those store unionizations you’ve heard about—is telling its organizers to apply for jobs at Starbucks. Yeah, you heard that right. They’re going undercover. And suddenly, your morning coffee run feels a whole lot more political.
Why Starbucks Needs All These New Hires
Texas. Florida. California. That’s where most of these jobs are popping up. And it’s not just regular stores—they’re building these weird little pickup-only spots and drive-thru joints. Honestly? Feels like they’re trying to be the McDonald’s of coffee. Faster, more convenient, less human.
Maria Chen—she’s a retail analyst I spoke to—put it bluntly: “Starbucks is betting big on speed right now.” But here’s the kicker: every new hire is another potential union member. And corporate knows it.
The Union’s Genius (And Kinda Sneaky) Plan
Workers United isn’t messing around. After winning that first huge victory in Buffalo back in 2021—first corporate Starbucks to unionize, remember?—they’re playing the long game. One organizer (who asked to stay anonymous) told me: “We’re getting inside. Every new barista is someone we can talk to about fair wages and decent schedules.”
But let’s be real—it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Only a handful of those 300+ unionized stores actually have contracts yet. The others? Stuck in negotiation purgatory.
Corporate vs. Workers: The Messy Fight
Starbucks keeps saying they “respect workers’ rights.” Meanwhile, the NLRB has slapped them with over 100 complaints since 2021. Firing union supporters, closing stores mid-campaign—the usual union-busting playbook. Company claims it’s all coincidental. Sure, Jan.
Customers are torn. I talked to this guy in Chicago who said: “Look, I want baristas to get paid fairly. But I also don’t want to wait 20 minutes for my cold brew.” Can’t make this stuff up.
Where This Gets Real
Take that unionized Seattle store—they fought for months to get $17/hour. Meanwhile, the Memphis location? Workers got fired, store mysteriously closed during the campaign. Classic. And let’s not forget Amazon and Trader Joe’s—proof that yeah, you can win, but corporations will fight dirty.
What Happens Next?
This hiring surge could go two ways: Either all these new workers join the movement and it explodes, or the union gets diluted in a sea of new faces. Either way, here’s what you can do: Tip like you mean it. Ask your barista how they’re really doing. Maybe skip that #UnionizeStarbucks retweet and actually talk to a human making your coffee.
The Bottom Line
We’re watching something big here. Starbucks wants to grow fast. Workers want a fair shake. And honestly? The whole service industry is taking notes. Next time you grab your venti whatever, look around—you’re not just in a coffee shop. You’re on the front lines of the new labor movement. Wild, right?
Source: Financial Times – Companies