Workers at a Sherwood Park Starbucks store, located at Amberley Way on Sherwood Drive (store # 57236), have won their unionization vote to join the United Steelworkers union (USW), becoming the third unionized corporate Starbucks store in Alberta.
“It’s really great to be part of such an important movement, especially to be amongst the first in Canada,” said a barista at the Sherwood Drive store who wished to remain anonymous.
The baristas join the growing number of Starbucks employees organizing across North America for better working conditions and wages, including the Beaver Brook Square Starbucks workers in Sherwood Park who won their unionization vote on Thursday.
“The Beaver Brook store in Sherwood Park, as well as the stores in Calgary and Lethbridge, really set a precedent in Canada. For us to join the other unionized stores in British Columbia means a lot as we lay the groundwork for other partners to pursue collective bargaining all across the country. It feels like more and more stores will hopefully follow our lead and demand better from corporate,” added the worker.
The unionization vote took place in person, with the majority voting in favour of joining the USW. The 25 workers at the Amberley Way store will become members of USW Local 1-207, representing workers in a variety of industries across Alberta.
“This is the second time this week that our union is proud to welcome new Starbucks members to our growing union family,” said Scott Lunny, USW Director for Western Canada. “It takes a lot of courage to unionize and I’m pleased that they have chosen the USW to support their efforts.
“The USW is a growing and progressive union that helps workers achieve better. We hear every day that workers want more power and the opportunity to be heard. That is why Starbucks workers across Canada and the United States are joining unions and demanding better from the coffee giant. We look forward to ensuring these workers achieve a first collective agreement that empowers them to secure the respect and voice they deserve,” said Lunny.
The USW represents Starbucks workers in Sherwood Park and Calgary in Alberta, and in Victoria, Surrey and Langley in B.C. The USW also represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions. Workers interested in joining the United Steelworkers union can learn more about the benefits at betterworknow.ca or by calling 1-888-879-2411 (toll-free).
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