A.J. Jackson, Greenville News
Updated Mon, July 17, 2023
Clemson Starbucks workers at the 1082 Tiger Blvd. location have officially filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize alongside Starbucks Workers United.
The paperwork was filed on Monday morning, and an adjacent letter was sent to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan to announce their organizing, detailing complaints of discrimination of race and illness, drastic hour cuts, favoritism shown in the workplace, and more.
"I know first-hand that it is possible to love this job," said Kale Hilley, barista at the Clemson location. "But as long as we are in these conditions, it will never be possible. I'm speaking up and voting to unionize because my partners and I deserve better."
The letter also detailed: "We risk losing eligibility for health insurance because our hours are being continually cut. We repeatedly see the destruction of our partner experience occurring due to unrealistic customer demand."
The nationwide union includes more than 8,500 workers looking for better working conditions, fair wages and consistent schedules. Since December 2021, more than 335 stores across the country have successfully unionized, according to workersunited.org.
In response, Starbucks Press issued the following statement:
"We recognize that a subset of partners feel differently and we respect their right to organize and to engage in lawful union activities without fear of reprisal or retaliation," a Starbucks media correspondent said. "As a next step, we welcome the opportunity for our partners at our Tiger Blvd. and College Ave. store to vote in a neutral, secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board."
The vote would allow the employees and partners to make their own informed decision regarding union representation.
According to Starbucks officials, their company offers employees an average of $17.50 hour, medical/dental and vision benefits and 100% tuition reimbursement.
If successfully unionized, the Clemson Boulevard and Tiger Avenue Starbucks location would join three other sites in South Carolina, including Interstate 85 and Pelham Parkway in Greenville, Millwood Avenue and Butler Street in Columbia, and I-85 and Clemson Boulevard in Anderson.
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson Starbucks workers petition to unionize, seek hours, insurance
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