APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An Appleton Starbucks is working to become the first location in the Fox Valley to form a union.
Workers at the Northland Avenue café signed unionization cards on Friday. They’ve petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a union election.
The Fox Valley location is the fourth in the state to organize. Others are in Madison, Plover and Oak Creek.
“We’re presented when we’re hired that we’re partners with the company, and we really want a seat at the table,” said Carrie Kawczynski, Starbucks barista and store trainer.
The Starbucks Workers United is a new union, but it’s hooking its teeth into the industry.
“It’s more of a movement,” Kawczynski said. “Our voices should be heard. What’s happening on the ground level and what could make improvements for all of us, and it’s not just us now. It’s our future employees.”
The Starbucks Workers United movement is sweeping the nation. Starbucks workers have recently elected Workers United to represent them at locations coast to coast, including Buffalo, N.Y., Seattle and Mesa, Ariz.
“We sent our ‘Dear Howard letter’ to the CEO informing him that we had filed to do the election in six weeks, and it also went to our store managers,” Kawczynski said.
It comes with some hesitancy, and rightfully so.
“They have tried some union-busting tactics that we’re aware of, especially in the first store: Buffalo,” Kawczynski said. “We’re not sure what’s gonna happen. We hope that they just really try to work with us in end.”
The National Labor Relations Board needs to set an election date. If the majority of workers vote yes, then the employer has to recognize the union.
