Around 75 people showed up in support of the Starbucks workers at 29th & Willamette in their unionization effort Thursday. The event was organized by Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network to show the community supports the workers and is against Starbucks’ union busting. Among the attendees were members of many unions including: GTFF, SEIU, Teamsters, IBEW, IATSE, and AFSCME.
Workers filed for a union election on January 6. Since then workers say they have had an outpouring of support from the community with many people stopping at the store and applauding the workers in their unionization effort. As of this writing, workers at 29 other shops join the Eugene location in fighting for a union.
In addition to outpouring of support from the community, Starbucks corporate has also responded by sending down Human Resources to dissuade workers. Employees say they have been pulled off the shop floor individually while they are working to have meetings with two, sometimes three people from management.
Workers stand united to against the anti-union tactics from management, knowing what they can win with through organizing. “It’s a large amount of well, what can we fix today? When it’s not a today issue, it’s a bigger pitch, like, bigger issue, bigger issue than today,” Rez Alexander, a worker at the 29th & Willamette Starbucks says.
Starbucks workers will have their first hearing with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on their petition to unionize Friday.
