Starbucks will begin talks with the Workers United union to reach bargaining agreements and develop a framework for workers to organize.
It’s been more than two years since the first Maine Starbucks store voted to unionize, and the movement soon spread to other Maine locations.
In 2022, Starbucks closed its Middle Street location in Portland after employees there voted to unionize.
At the time, Starbucks promised to negotiate a contract with the new union but instead closed the location.
Both the union and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District accused Starbucks of union busting at the time. The National Labor Relations Board ruled in December that the store closure violated federal law.
As far as these new negotiations go, both sides hope to be back at the bargaining table in the coming weeks.
