As Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) members representing more than 500 Starbucks stores nationwide prepare for mediation with their company—a huge step in their quest to begin bargaining a first contract—I spoke with workers at a Starbucks in Bettendorf who are getting ready for an election to possibly become the third unionized Starbucks in Iowa.
Michael Marquez, a shift supervisor with Starbucks for 13 years, contacted SBWU in October after saying he “noticed a distinct shift in the company straying away from the coffee house culture … and more toward this fast-food coffee factory that started being concerned with profits over people.”
“Baristas were subjected to all these [customer] promotions,” Marquez added, bringing in lots more customers even as store staffing stayed the same.
Marquez then brought on Sofie Formas, a shift supervisor with Starbucks for 2 1/2 years. Formas said the decision was easy, as a “generally pro-union person,” but it was more than that.
“I looked into Workers United a little more, and I really like that they were fighting for us to not only have a livable wage, but one that can help us flourish,” Formas said. “I like that they wanted to bring back some of the transgender health insurance benefits and just general health insurance benefits. I really liked just the idea of having more of an ability to be able to speak up in our workplace compared to how it is now.”
Marquez said earning a livable wage was a big issue among their other coworkers too.
“A lot of our coworkers feel that through this job they often have to choose between whether they fix their car or can afford their groceries,” Marquez said. “Some of them are mothers and have children, some of them are on state health insurance … That shouldn’t be the case when you’re working a job that should be able to provide for you.”
Marquez has actually worked at both Starbucks stores in Iowa City and Davenport that have already unionized, and said he’s taken a lot of lessons from what they’ve gone through.
“They’ve been a tremendous help and support through this journey,” he said. “I think it’s great to join them and get a nice, stronger base in Iowa.”
Right now, both told me they’re informing their coworkers about the election, which the National Labor Relations Board set for Feb. 26, and what’s at stake.
“We had cards signed so fast when we talked to people” about unionizing, Formas said. “We really just have had such a good, supportive team, and we want to ride that momentum.”
“The biggest challenges we’ve had is just miseducation, and any propaganda that there are against unions themselves,” Marquez added. “I think a lot of people are misinformed about their own rights and talking about unions and forming unions at their workplaces, or even just essentially what a union is.”
Want to support the effort? Workers are holding a Valentine’s Day Sip-In from 8 a.m.-noon this Friday, Feb. 14, at the Bettendorf Starbucks, 931 Middle Road.
“The idea is you come, you get a coffee, we’ll ask you your name, you can say ‘union strong,’” Marquez said. “Just come tell us you support our union and show some love.”
And folks have been already, Formas added.
“There have been so many customers, both regular and new people, that have asked about” the unionization effort, Formas said. “It’s just been a really nice experience to see so many people be so supportive, and I think that’s really also helped to add to our momentum and overall morale.”
