Starbucks and Workers United union drop lawsuits, enter mediation for contract talksStarbucks and Workers United union drop lawsuits, enter mediation for contract talks

Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United have reached a new collective bargaining milestone after almost a year of failed contract negotiations. The two groups have entered mediation to continue working out remaining challenges to ratifying a formalized union contact.

“Starbucks and Workers United have agreed to engage a mediator to assist the two parties in reaching a framework for single store contracts for our partners represented by the union,” Starbucks and Workers United said in a joint statement. “We have made progress over the last nine months of bargaining, and we are committed to continuing to work together – with a mediator’s assistance – to navigate complex issues and reach fair contracts.”

Both parties have also agreed to drop their respective lawsuits against one another. In October 2023, both parties sued each other over the union’s use of the Starbucks company name and logo that came to a head at the height of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Starbucks and Workers United have agreed to withdraw these respective lawsuits,” a representative for Starbucks said in a statement. “We remain dedicated to protecting our brand and addressing statements inaccurately attributed to our company. We continue to work to reach agreement on a framework for single-store contracts.”

Related:Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United union begin collective bargaining process

This step forward for both parties comes on the heels of unionized baristas across the country participating in strikes and protests in order to put pressure on Starbucks to negotiate a fair contract. Starbucks Workers United voted to authorize a strike in mid-December, which escalated across multiple cities in the leadup to Christmas. Then, in late January, New York City baristas staged a sit-in in Park Slope, Brooklyn, to demand a fair contract.

As Starbucks and Workers United enter negotiations afresh with a mediator, both sides are hopeful that contract negotiations are achieved more quickly now.

“Getting back to bargaining with a professional mediator involved is a positive step forward toward winning fair contracts for union baristas,” Workers United said in a statement. “We are optimistic that Starbucks will move off of their fixed position on wage and benefits improvements in this next phase of negotiations. Starbucks partners are making our voices heard, and adding a mediator to negotiations allows us to build on our momentum toward finalizing fair contracts and building power together as baristas.”

Contact Joanna at [email protected]