The Chicago Democratic Socialists of America stands in solidarity with the workers of Starbucks Store 2492 (Logan & California) and Store 63483 (Randolph & Wabash) as they file to launch a union campaign and negotiate a contract that will secure the wages and working conditions they deserve.

On Friday, the Starbucks at Logan & California became the 14th Starbucks store in the United States to file for a unionization campaign. Three stores in Buffalo, NY voted last year to unionize and two of them successfully won their campaigns. Following their successful campaigns, 3 additional Buffalo stores have filed as well as other stores in Seattle; Boston; Arizona; Knoxville, Tenn.; Bloomfield, Colo.; and Store 63483 (Randolph & Wabash) in downtown Chicago.

We echo the call from their letter to Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson filed today: “We call upon Starbucks to recognize your workers’ legal right to organize under the protections prescribed by the NLRA, refrain from intimidation tactics, make no attempt at reciprocity and let the process play out fairly. While we understand our store is in need of repair, we ask that Starbucks not move up our remodel” in an attempt to separate the workers and bust their right to a union. 

These workers are squaring off against an international corporate behemoth in a historic campaign that is spreading across the country. Their bravery is a model for workers everywhere who are sick of unjust work conditions and ready to organize and fight back. Solidarity!