Mar 22, 2022 - Business

Starbucks in downtown Columbus joins union drive

Alissa Widman Neese,
Tyler Buchanan

Photo: Kena Betancur/VIEWpress

Employees of a Starbucks near the Ohio Statehouse intend to unionize.

Why it matters: The downtown store is the first in Columbus to join more than 150 of the coffee chain's stores across the country pushing for unions, including a few in Cleveland.

What's happening: An "overwhelming majority" of workers at 88 E. Broad St. signed union authorization cards and sent a letter to the company's CEO on Monday, according to a news release.

If 30% of employees submit cards, an election with the National Labor Relations Board would follow.

The big picture: Five Starbucks stores in New York and one in Arizona have unionized while others are awaiting votes.

Workers United, their national affiliate, alleges retaliatory practices by the company, which operates 9,000 U.S. stores.

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Starbucks in downtown Columbus joins union drive

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