Unionized Starbucks employees accept first collective agreement

Workers at a Sherwood Park Starbucks are now unionized — union leaders say – a change that started with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some of the things that folks at Starbucks said to us were important were a bit of control over their work and their workplace — particularly in terms of health and safety,” said Scott Lunny. Director of United Steelworkers Western Canada.

Union leaders who now represent these Starbucks employees say the front-line fast-food and hospitality workers were under enormous pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic — which is partially what led to it becoming the second location in Alberta to unionize.

In addition to seniority rights and a collective voice — employees will see a wage increase.

“The Sherwood Park store has an immediate increase — and then 5 per cent more wage increase over the next two years,” said Lunny.

Starbucks put out a statement on its website praising the collective agreement and pledging to work with union leaders and employers. It’s a different story inside the store. 

CityNews spoke to an employee off-camera over the counter who said that the attitude around joining the union is split with some for it and some against it — adding she personally didn’t see the value in unionizing. 

That’s not the only labour disagreement in Edmonton as video game testers from Keywords Studios in Edmonton — who works under Edmonton video game giant Bioware say they’ve been laid off after failing to reach a collective agreement with their employer.