PRESS CONTACT

September 1, 2023

STARBUCKS WORKERS IN NEW JERSEY STORES GO ON UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE IN SOLIDARITY WITH MONTCLAIR SHIFT SUPERVISOR
Starbucks worker discharged in retaliation for protected activities

New Jersey – Today, Starbucks workers in Montclair, Summit, Ledgewood and Danbury, CT went on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike to protest the discharge of Celeste Cruz, Shift Supervisor at the Starbucks Montclair, NJ location.

“Today’s ULP strike is in protest to the unfair discharge of Celeste Cruz, employed by Starbucks for over five years, and her right to assemble seeking better working conditions, and to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Albert Arroyo, Co-Manager of Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board, Workers United, SEIU. “These four stores in New Jersey and Connecticut stand in solidarity with her because an injury to one is an injury to all.”

“I finally feel important, I finally feel seen. There were no goodbye balloons or streamers from Starbucks when I left, but my union gets it. They will stop working, make noise and hear my last cry for a better workplace and better working conditions.” They will make sure management knows why I had to leave.” …Celeste Cruz, Montclair, NJ.

In an open letter to store and District Managers, workers enumerated points of disapproval regarding the discharge of Ms. Cruz in retaliation for her union activities and demanded her prompt reinstatement.

“This Strike is about Celeste Cruz’s discharge. We are tired of partners being pushed out, by being offered less hours, receiving unjust discipline or unjustly fired like Janeisha Allen- Adlam (NJ). There are others on this campaign that have been subjected to unjust terminations and discipline because of their support of the union. We the partners at Starbucks are not going to stand for it.” …Niah Baker, Montclair, NJ.

”Our national union effort demands that we stand with our partners everywhere to protest Starbuck’s unfair labor practices, which affect all of us in our fight for good faith bargaining and a contract that addresses our needs as workers.” …Theresa Buchta, Danbury, CT.

“We are striking today to tell Starbucks that we are not going anywhere; we support Celeste Cruz. We support all the illegally fired union organizers. Our movement will not be slowed down by corporate’s unfair labor practices.” …Jordan Williams, Succasunna, NJ.

“We need to hold Starbucks accountable for their actions. We know that they are targeting union organizers, we see their unfair labor practices, and we will not stand by while they continue.” …Sarah Sedivec, Succasunna, NJ.

After the strikes Starbucks Workers United and Barnes & Noble will host a solidarity party.

WHAT: Solidarity Party
WHEN: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 1, 2023
WHERE: Ale n Wich
246 Hamilton St.
New Brunswick, NJ

Background

The ULP strike is taking place at a momentous time in the organizing campaign. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is currently prosecuting the company for failing to bargain in good faith with workers. So far, in 15 favorable decisions out of 16, NLRB judges have found that Starbucks committed 161 federal labor law violations, including nineteen unlawful discharges. The federal government is currently prosecuting Starbucks for approximately 75 complaints, encompassing over 200 charges and alleging over 1300 violations, including 77 discharges. This makes the Coffee Giant the worst violator of labor law in modern U.S. history.

Starbucks Workers United formed by Starbuck workers, has taken the labor movement by storm. Since December 2021, over 8,000 workers in 320 Starbucks stores in 38 states and the District of Columbia have successfully unionized, making it the company with more new unions than any in the 21st century.

###

Starbucks Workers United represents over 320 locations accounting for nearly 8,000 workers in the country. The LDFS Joint Board Workers United is a proud member of the SEIU NJ State Council, composed of unions representing around 15,000 service workers in the state.