Seattle Starbucks store votes to unionize

In Seattle, the company's hometown, a Starbucks store has voted to unionize. This is the latest group of employees to do so in a union push that appears to be gaining popularity. The National Labor Relations Board announced the vote results after a count on Tuesday. This result makes the number of unionized company-owned U.S. stores seven out of the total 9,000 stores. 

Since Seattle is the company's hometown and its birthplace, the result represents an even bigger win for Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. The tally was 9 to 0 and one ballot was left uncounted after the company challenged it. 

The company said last week that its chief executive Kevin Johnson is leaving his post. Starbucks has performed well during the pandemic but its management has had to contend with an upswell of criticism from employees. Howard Schultz, who oversaw Starbucks' growth into a giant is returning as its chief executive on an interim basis. 

Source: The New York Times