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Bloomington’s Indiana Ave. Starbucks becomes sixth in state to unionize

The store is located near Indiana University's Bloomington campus and many employees are students.
The store is located near Indiana University's Bloomington campus and many employees are students.

Starbucks workers at the Indiana Avenue location are now the sixth in Indiana to unionize.

Workers voted 15-1 Tuesday to certify Starbucks Workers United, joining seven other stores across the country to do so this week, according to a news release from the union.

Although 16 employees voted in the election, 20 were eligible to do so, according to the National Labor Relations Board.

The store is near Indiana University's Bloomington campus and many employees are students.

The results came exactly one week after employees filed a petition with the Board to unionize.

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Workers told Indiana Public Broadcasting they had discussed forming a union for about two years and opened conversations with other unionized stores and union representatives last October.

Barista Sophie Lee cited higher wages, consistent scheduling and job security as reasons for seeking a union election.

In an emailed statement, a Starbucks representative wrote the company respects its partners rights to choose whether to unionize.

“We are committed to delivering on our promise to offer a bridge to a better future to all Starbucks partners," the statement reads.

Starbucks said it and Starbucks Workers United have made significant progress at the bargaining table, and the company hopes to reach ratified agreements in 2024 for stores that have opted for union representation.

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In February, the company and Starbucks Workers United agreed to begin discussions on a foundational framework to help achieve bargaining agreements, resolve litigation and address other issues.

Starbucks said it also has invested in a management training program and dedicated labor relations team and encourages and honors the National Labor Relations Board election process.

"In advance of the union representation election at our Indiana Ave. store, our focus will be to ensure that partners can trust the process is fair and their voice is heard," the company said.

The Indiana Avenue store Starbucks in Bloomington to unionize, following in the footsteps of workers at the store off the State Road 45/46 bypass.

Workers at stores in Clarksville, Valparaiso and Plainfield also have unionized.

More than 450 Starbucks stores across 44 states and Washington, D.C. have unionized since 2021, according to Starbucks Workers United.

Lucas González is a multimedia journalist for Indiana Public Media. He covers Bloomington city government. Lucas is originally from northwest Ohio and is a Midwesterner at heart. Lucas is an alumnus of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Before joining Indiana Public Media, Lucas worked at WRTV, The Times of Northwest Indiana, The Salisbury Daily Times, and The Springfield News-Sun.