(CHICAGO) — Employees at the Chicago Reserve Roastery on North Michigan Ave. have turned down union membership. The decision is a major setback for Workers United, part of the Service Employees International Union.
The five-story roastery on the Magnificent Mile is the largest Starbucks in the world. Workers rejected union membership during on-site voting conducted Friday and Saturday.
The tally, compiled Saturday night, was 119 votes against the union and 90 in favor.
Employees who opposed unionization said the campaign caused unnecessary division between workers and management.
Workers United said in a statement that the outcome was influenced by Starbucks’ “unprecedented and aggressive anti-union campaign.” It said it has filed with the NLRB charges of unfair labor practices, adding to many complaints pending against the company.
Workers United has won union representation elections at 355 Starbucks stores in the U.S. vs. 81 defeats, according to a count by the pro-labor group More Perfect Union. The national organizing dates from 2021. Starbucks has about 9,000 company-owned locations in the U.S.
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