Above photo: Union members, local officials, and allies gathered to demonstrate. Starbucks Workers United Facebook.
York County, PA — Seven days into union baristas’ nationwide, open-ended unfair labor practices (ULP) strike, over one hundred Pennsylvania Starbucks Baristas gathered outside Starbucks’ York distribution center Wednesday to protest.
The center, located on1605 Bartlett Dr., is the largest on the east coast for the coffee giant. According to organizers, it services the entire northeast region.
Baristas gathered alongside President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, Matt Yarnell, and Workers United Executive Vice President, David Melman. Also in attendance was State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El.
Protesters formed a blockade to stop trucks from delivering supplies to the distribution center, holding large banners which read, “No contract, no Starbucks” and “Grind to a halt”. A picket line formed at the entrance of the distribution center.
“As of now, our union Starbucks Workers United, has the facilities under a full blockade; none of the delivery trucks that supply our stores with the vital things that they need to operate are able to reach the facility. We’ve already turned several trucks away,” Philadelphia Starbucks Workers United member and bargaining delegate Silvia Baldwin said.
Last Thursday, over one thousand baristas launched a “Red Cup Rebellion”, officially beginning a ULP strike, protesting “Starbucks’ historic union busting and failure to finalize a fair union contract”, Starbucks’ Workers United said.
The strike, named after Starbucks’ annual holiday promotion, comes after six months of Starbucks “refusing to offer new proposals to address workers’ demands” for resolutions to ULP charges.
The strike began with 65 stores in more than 40 cities and has increased to include more than 550 current union stores, Workers United stated. 92% of Workers United members voted to authorize a strike.
Baldwin and other members of the union, as well as elected officials addressed those in attendance. The demonstration was livestreamed on Facebook and can be viewed above.
“When we said baristas were ready to take drastic measures, we meant it. This is only the beginning,” Baldwin said. “Our union includes over 11,000 Starbucks members. We have the support of our customers, of our communities, of our labor allies (and) of elected officials. We have the infrastructure to take care of each other (and) stay out on strike for the long haul.
Starbucks Workers United said members have been “incredibly clear” about the terms of their contracts and the expectations for the company to “finally pay up for its absolutely heinous and unprecedented union busting.”
The union has, according to Baldwin, filed over 1,000 ULP charges against the company.
“’No contract, no coffee’ isn’t just a tagline, it’s a promise,” Baldwin said. “Business as usual will not continue until Starbucks settles a contract with us.”
