Employees at a Hillcrest Starbucks have voted to unionize, becoming the first store in the city of San Diego to join nationwide union efforts to improve working conditions, wages and schedules.
Workers at the University Avenue and Richmond Street store won union representation in a 15-2 vote last week, according to Starbucks Workers United, the labor group spearheading the effort.
“Combined, our partners have dedicated over a lifetime of working at Starbucks,” said Emma Bradshaw, a barista and organizer at the San Diego location. “We deserve job security, a safe work environment and to be recognized for our dedication to Starbucks and our community. Through unionizing we hope to have our voices heard and our needs met.”
The National Labor Relations Board now must certify the election before contract negotiations begin. In May, an Encinitas Starbucks became the first store in San Diego County to unionize after a 21-2 vote.
The NLRB has issued over 100 official complaints against Starbucks, encompassing over 1,900 violations of federal labor law, union officials said in a press release.
Across the country, more than 340 Starbucks have established a union, according to Starbucks Workers United.