SEATTLE — Seattle is joining the call for change at Starbucks.
The labor movement continues to grow as a pro-union rally was held in front of Starbucks corporate headquarters in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.
Compared to the last rally there about three weeks ago, the crowd of protestors has at least quadrupled.
Brent Hayes, Starbucks barista trainer and rally organizer, said four stores have joined the union push.
So far, one store has voted, two are in court hearings, and the other — Starbucks Flagship Roastery Reserve — filed for union elections Monday.
“This is super significant. Roasteries are massive businesses within Starbucks. They have teams of usually around 100,” said Hayes.
At Tuesday’s rally, new signs were added to the mix, most of them reading, “Reinstate the Memphis 7.”
Who are the Memphis 7?
“Seven employees from Memphis who were fired simply for forming an organizing committee,” said Hayes.
But Starbucks leadership said the workers in Memphis were fired for safety and security violations.
The company cited an investigation which revealed:
- Employees invited a reporter and other non-employees into the store after closing.
- During that time, an off-the-clock employee handled cash.
- COVID-19 protocol was violated by not taking temperatures or wearing masks.
- Employees took the unauthorized guests to the back of the house where there were personal files and belongings.
“These are things that normally no one would ever get fired for. Personally, I was fired for being in the back of house while off-duty,” said Luis Sanchez, a member of the Memphis 7.
Sanchez and another fired co-worker flew in from Tennessee to speak at the Seattle rally.
Footing their bill is Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who used funds from her personal “solidarity fund.”
Currently, more than 80 Starbucks locations across the country have filed for union elections. Organizers in Seattle said that number could be in the triple digits by as early as next week.
©2022 Cox Media Group
