A second Long Island Starbucks location – this one in Massapequa – has filed a petition to unionize through Workers United NY/NJ Regional Joint Board, following dozens of other Starbucks stores that have recently pushed to unionize throughout the country.
Twenty-six employees at the Massapequa Village Square Starbucks on Merrick Road signed a letter to Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson stating the labor issues they’ve faced working for the multi-billion dollar corporation and their intention to unionize.
“Last year, you received a 7 million dollar raise, while the majority of partners did not receive any raise at all,” the letter said. “We did the math; it would take the average Starbucks barista 826 years of work with the company to earn your 2021 salary alone…
“Partners at Massapequa Village Square Starbucks persevered through swamped, understaffed days. We focused on upholding the mission and values of Starbucks and providing the Starbucks Experience, even when facing a line out the door, inundated with mobile orders, and endless curbside pickups,” the letter stated. “We will continue to strive to uphold our end of the bargain; now we’re asking you to uphold yours.”
Massapequa Village Square on Long Island, NY has joined the 80+ other stores across the United States fighting for their rights to unionize! pic.twitter.com/quMDL3hKRw
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) February 14, 2022
In addition to fair wages, Massapequa workers cited Covid-19 safety concerns in the letter. The Massapequa Starbucks store joins more than 80 others nationwide that have recently pushed for unionization, including one in Great Neck and four in New York City that filed on Friday.
Store locations have been organizing independently to join Starbucks Workers United, a branch of the Workers United NY/NJ Regional Joint Board, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. According to a report in Newsday, the company has requested a regional union vote in Buffalo.
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