United Steelworkers Files Unfair Labour Practice Complaint Against Starbucks

The United Steelworkers union (USW) has filed with the B.C. Labour Relations Board an unfair labour practice complaint against Starbucks after the coffee giant refused to extend wage increases to the unionized staff at the corporate drive-through store.

“Our complaint concerns Starbucks’ decision to implement significant wage increases for employees at its non-union stores in Canada, but not for those at its sole unionized store, in an effort to compel its unionized employees to cease to be members of the union,” said Scott Lunny, USW Western Canada Director. “This intimidating and coercive conduct arises from the significant anti-union behaviour from Starbucks and represents an interference with the administration of a trade union contrary to the Labour Code.”

On May 3, 2022, Starbucks Canada announced investments for its “partners” (employees), including increased pay, benefits and training. In its release sent to all employees, Lori Digulla, Starbucks senior vice-president and general manager, said there would be increased pay for all retail partners in every province and every role beginning this summer. That was quickly followed up with an email to Douglas Street employees informing them they would not receive the “partner investments” (wage increases) as they were a unionized store.

In a letter to Digulla, workers expressed their disappointment that Starbucks was refusing to include the partners of the unionized store and called on the coffee giant to do the right thing by extending the wage increases to them.

“During bargaining and mediation, the most contentious issue was employee wage rates. We negotiated specific language in the collective agreement that allows for changes deemed necessary by mutual agreement of the employer and the union, at any time, during the life of the agreement. After the Digulla letter was sent out to all employees, the union requested Starbucks to mutually agree to extend the wage increases to the Douglas Street workers, and the request was denied,” said Lunny.

Starbucks has openly said that unions are unnecessary and has actively engaged in anti-union tactics to discourage partners from joining a union.

“We are calling on Starbucks to do what’s right and extend the wage increases to the unionized store. We know our members work as hard and contribute as much as any other partner in any other store and they should be treated with the respect they deserve,” added Lunny.