Starbucks has been facing a crisis from its workers union across the country for the past few months, including a strike that affected several hundred locations during the company's Red Cup Day last month.
The coffee giant is now taking a big step in an attempt to negotiate with its union, as Starbucks managing partner Sara Kelly said. published a letter on December 8 expressing the company's desire to meet with Workers United by January 2024.
Kelly's letter, addressed to Workers United International President Lynne Fox, said the “impasse” both sides find themselves in “should not be acceptable to any of us.”
Related: Starbucks' Red Cup Day could be disrupted by the largest strike in company history
He then highlighted eight points that Starbucks will commit to in the bargaining process and asked that the union do the same.
The bullet points are as follows:
- We will treat each negotiation participant with dignity and respect.
- We will refrain from any derogatory, profane, threatening, discriminatory or abusive language, gestures or conduct.
- We will protect our workplace culture based on inclusion, diversity and equity.
- We will schedule sessions to ensure that members at each store have the opportunity to participate.
- We will conduct sessions without video or audio feeds or recordings so that all participants feel comfortable with open and honest discussions.
- We will agree to maintain the confidentiality of personal information and personnel matters.
- We will be professional and work together to find solutions to member concerns.
- We will set as an ambitious and hopeful goal the completion of the negotiation and ratification of the contracts in 2024.
Related: Starbucks plans pay hikes following profit surge as broader US union effort accelerates
Starbucks Workers Unitedwhich consists of 370 stores according to the union's website, has complained about the poor working conditions and abuses many Starbucks employees have suffered, in addition to low wages.
Fox responded to the letter in a statement obtained by TheStreet.
“We just received the letter. We are reviewing it and will respond. We have never said no to meeting with Starbucks. Anything that moves the negotiation forward in a positive way is very welcome,” the statement read.
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