​U.S. workers at more than 50 Starbucks stores have now voted to unionize.  Starbucks Workers United has won union elections in 54 of 60 elections — a 90% win rate. 

New York, May 11 (RHC)-- U.S. workers at more than 50 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize.  Starbucks Workers United has won union elections in 54 of 60 elections — a 90% win rate. 

The company is now fighting back by offering to increase worker wages and training — but only at nonunionized stores. 

Starbucks’ billionaire CEO Howard Schultz told reporters: “Partners at Starbucks U.S. company-operated stores, where we have the right to unilaterally make these changes, will receive these wages and benefit enhancements.  This covers more than 240,000 Starbucks partners at roughly 8,800 Starbucks stores across the country.  We do not have the same freedom to make these improvements at locations that have a union or where union organizing is underway.”

In response, Starbucks Workers United filed a formal charge with the National Labor Relations Board.  Steven Greenhouse, the former New York Times labor reporter, tweeted: “This smells like illegal discrimination against union members for having dared to defy Howard Schultz & unionize.  I predict the National Labor Relations Board will move quickly to find this a nationwide violation of federal law and will order Starbucks to give unionized baristas the same wage increases.”