Springfield Starbucks workers join nationwide protest

A dozen workers at two Starbucks stores in Springfield joined in a nationwide union protest on a rainy Christmas Eve morning.

Employees held protest signs and waved at passersby at 1008 E. Battlefield Road and 631 S. Glenstone Ave., with the two stores out of operation as the workers engaged in the strike. The stores are the two locations in Springfield represented by Starbucks Workers United, a part of the Workers United labor union that's affiliated with Service Employees International Union.

Verraine Fritz, an employee at the Battlefield Road location near the National Avenue intersection, said the workers on strike at the store are seeking higher wages, among other measures. Battlefield Road store employees voted to unionize last month, she said.

"We are protesting unfair labor practices from Starbucks," said Fritz, one of seven employees on strike at the store just before 9 a.m. "It is our largest strike of Starbucks that we've ever done."

Fritz said the protest started at 4 a.m., with plans to continue until 4 p.m.

At the Glenstone Avenue store, just south of Cherry Street, Springfield Business Journal observed five workers on strike this morning.

One of those employees, Johnie Tindle, said workers' rights are on the line in the protest and also drew a contrast between larger salaries for Starbucks executives and wages at the store level.

"And yet they're saying there's not enough money in the budget for stores," Tindle said.

The Glenstone Avenue store strike is planned 7 a.m.-noon, Tindle said.

Starbucks Workers United announced in a news release last week that baristas had authorized a strike to challenge unfair labor practice charges, with specific issues cited in raises, benefits and staffing. The union's Facebook page indicates the strikes impact more than 300 stores nationwide after union officials say Starbucks missed a recent deadline on negotiations set by the union.

“It’s time to finalize a foundational framework that includes meaningful investments in baristas and to resolve unfair labor practice charges,” said Silvia Baldwin, a Philadelphia barista and bargaining delegate, in the release. “Starbucks can’t get back on track as a company until it finalizes a fair contract that invests in its workforce. Right now, I’m making $16.50 an hour. Meanwhile, [Starbucks CEO] Brian Niccol’s compensation package is worth $57,000 an hour. The company just announced I’m only getting a 2.5% raise next year, 40 cents an hour, which is hardly anything. It’s one Starbucks drink per week. Starbucks needs to invest in the baristas who make Starbucks run.”

Starbucks spokesperson Phil Gee said roughly 170 stores did not open as planned today, representing nearly 2% of some 10,000 company-operated stores.

“Workers United delegates prematurely ended our bargaining session this week. It is disappointing they didn’t return to the table given the progress we’ve made to date," Gee said in an emailed statement. "Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year year contract. This is not sustainable. We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need the union to return to the table."