Harris County Commissioners call out Starbucks union-busting in historic resolution
The unions of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation today lauded Harris County Commissioners Court for passing a historic resolution calling for Starbucks management to not interfere in the drive by Houston workers to organize a union.
Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation Executive Director Hany Khalil said, “Every working person deserves a good job where they have access to a livable wage, affordable insurance, fair schedules, and a voice on the job. Forming unions is the most powerful tool working people have to turn bad jobs into good jobs. As the first Starbucks store in Houston votes on whether to form a union, Harris County is sending a clear message to Starbucks management: Starbucks employees in Harris County must be free to choose whether or not to unionize without fear of reprisal. We thank Judge Hidalgo and Commissioners Ellis and Garcia for their leadership.”
Polling has shown that public approval of labor unions is at its highest point since 1965 and that far more American workers would organize themselves into unions if the process were simple and the risks low. But despite legal protections, US managers often retaliate with impunity against workers who lead efforts to unionize.
Over the last year Starbucks employees in more than 200 stores across the U.S. and 7 in Texas have voted to join Starbucks Workers United. In July employees at the Starbucks store located at 2801 S. Shepherd Drive in Montrose announced their intention to vote on whether to form a union. The National Labor Relations Board is currently conducting the election by mail and will tabulate ballots on September 22, 2022.
The County resolution notes that “Starbucks management in other states and Texas has attempted to scare workers into not voting for unions by closing stores, firing pro-union workers, cutting hours, lobbying for the National Labor Relations Board to suspend elections, and other methods.” It goes on to announce that “Harris County Commissioners Court is in solidarity with Starbucks workers and all working people, and urges Starbucks to agree to non-interference and fair election principles as workers exercise their rights under the law to choose whether to unionize.”
The resolution was introduced by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis in collaboration with the Area Labor Federation and was passed on September 13 with the additional votes of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Adrian Garcia. It is believed to be the first resolution of its kind to be passed by Harris County Commissioner Court.
According to the Department of Labor’s new Worker Organizing Resource and Knowledge Center, “unions improve wages and working conditions for all workers, whether they are union members or not. Unions help reduce wage gaps for women workers and workers of color. Union members have better job safety protections and better paid leave than non-union workers, and are more secure exercising their rights in the workplace.”
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The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO unites the power of 92 unions with over 60,000 members living in 13 counties to advocate for working families in the Texas Gulf Coast. We mobilize our members and community partners to demand a fair shot at better lives for all working people — regardless of the color of our skin, which country we come from, or whom we love.
Learn more: www.gcaflcio.org/
