Jayapal Statement on Starbucks Strike

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after Workers United announced a strike following Starbucks’s refusal to bargain with unionized workers:

“Baristas at Starbucks’ across the country deserve adequate wages, staffing, and better schedules. In the last fiscal year, Starbucks spent over $1.2 billion on stock buybacks to enrich their shareholders, while telling unionized workers that all the company can afford is a 1.5 percent raise.

“I am proud that Starbucks started as a small business in my district, originally dedicated to taking care of customers and our community. That’s what we need to return to instead of continued union busting, disregarding worker demands for fair working conditions, and mounting an overwhelming number of legal challenges to pro-worker rulings from the National Labor Relations Board to avoid accountability. 

“I hope to see Starbucks come to the table to negotiate with unionized workers immediately to protect jobs and keep stores open.”

Issues: Jobs, Labor, & the Economy