Portland Starbucks Workers Vote to Unionize

On Monday, workers at the Starbucks coffee shop on Middle Street in Portland voted 10-3 to unionize with Starbucks Workers United. In a statement, Starbucks barista Mandie Cantrell thanked DSA, the Maine AFL-CIO, the Southern Maine Labor Council and everyone who attended their Labor Day “sip in” to support them.

“We are so excited and are looking forward to the partnership with Workers United,” wrote Cantrell. “There is a growing labor movement in Portland, Maine and I think this will be a beacon of hope for the food service workers of Portland and across Maine…. We can’t thank our community enough for all the support we have received. It means the world to us.”

In August, Portland members of Starbucks Workers United filed to become the second unionized Starbucks in Maine following the success of Biddeford baristas in forming the first union at the coffee chain in the state last spring. The Portland baristas say they formed the union because they wanted to have a stronger voice to bargain for better wages to keep up with the cost of living and more of say in scheduling. In the past year, 250 of Starbucks’ 9,000 U.S. locations have voted to unionize.

Congratulations Portland Starbucks workers on your union election victory. Your solidarity is an inspiration to us all!