By Jess Cohen
Last week, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined the Starbucks Union workers on their picket line in Lafayette, Colorado.
This week, 92% unionized Starbucks workers authorized a nationwide strike, including strikes in Lafayette and Colorado Springs.
“Starbucks is not a poor company – and yet they refuse to negotiate in good faith with their own workers,” said Hickenlooper. “These Colorado workers are out striking for their right to organize and for better working conditions. We’re proud to stand with them.”
Earlier this week, Hickenlooper called on Starbucks to end its illegal union-busting efforts and negotiate a fair contract with its employees. Starbucks Workers United, the union representing these employees, includes more than 300 workers in Colorado and 12,000 workers across the country. The company was found guilty of more than 500 labor law violations and has been accused of 125 new allegations of union-busting since January of this year.
Last year, Starbucks and its workers made progress toward a fair contract, reaching 33 tentative agreements on key issues such as health and safety and protections against unfair firing and discipline. The negotiations abruptly halted after Brian Niccol took over as CEO in September 2024.
In a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, Hickenlooper blasted Starbucks’ then-CEO Howard Schultz for how the company rejected labor disputes.
Hickenlooper is a strong supporter of union workers. He helped introduce Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to strengthen workers’ rights and help working Americans negotiate better salaries, benefits, and working conditions. He also co-sponsors the Protect America’s Workforce Act to repeal two union-busting executive orders from the Trump admin and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.
Jess Cohen writes for Senator Hickenlooper’s office.