It's Worker Wednesday: July 17, 2024.

A second Starbucks has officially unionized in Iowa—and two workers I spoke with say they were almost the first.

Eighteen workers at the Starbucks store on East 53rd Street in Davenport filed with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize in May. Out of 17 eligible voters, 16 of them voted—and 15 voted for the union, an overwhelming win.

There are now two unionized Starbucks in Iowa (Iowa City's Clinton and Burlington location voted to unionized last year), joining more than 460 stores across the country who are now part of Starbucks Workers United.

Alexis Miller and Braiden McClurg, two Davenport Starbucks workers who helped organize their coworkers, say their main motivation was how the company transitioned from a "chill" café vibe to a fast food, metrics-driven workplace. The company also increased responsibilities that baristas have to juggle, without providing any extra help.

Braiden McClurg, left, and Alexis Miller. (Courtesy Alexis Miller)

Miller said quiet conversations about unionizing began in the fall of 2021, but different managers and other stores opening nearby put it on pause. But then McClurg started at the store and had "a really horrible experience" with an interim manager, and called up Miller.

"And I was just like, 'We have to do this. This is horrible,'" McClurg recalled. "After that, I think we became really serious about it."

Their biggest hurdle was explaining what exactly a union was to the store's mainly 20-something workforce.

"They weren't against unions," Miller said. "We just had to inform them of what was going on."

Once they did, nearly everyone was on board—something that was reflected in the vote.

"It was just yes after yes," McClurg said of the vote tallying. "It was so satisfying just to have really shown (Starbucks) how much of a united front we were. They did not expect that at all. So it was really nice to see us all come together and the results of that effort."

Their advice to other Iowa Starbucks workers looking to do the same?

"Reach out, because Workers United is so nice," Miller said. "Everybody we've talked to has just been the sweetest and been there."

"And keep going," McClurg said. "Even when it seems to slow down, just keep going."

What's next: Unionized Starbucks workers finally pressured the company to begin bargaining over a contract; read the latest on their progress here.

Looking to organize your Starbucks, or show solidarity? Get help, or learn how to help, here.

Amie Rivers

Community Editor, Iowa Starting Line

Email me

Working class news you can use:

(Shutterstock)

Mercy workers speak out on loss of pay: Two health care workers, formerly of Mercy in Iowa City, talked with me about the transition to working at University of Iowa Health Care—including the pay decreases that could mean the loss of health care workers in Iowa.
Deere will lay off another 345 workers in Waterloo by Sept. 20: The East Donald site will bear the brunt of them, with 191 workers laid off there; another 89 will be laid off at the Commercial Street plant, and 65 at West Ridgeway Avenue. It's the fourth round of layoffs at Deere plants in Waterloo this year—East Donald suffered 308 layoffs in April, 49 in early June, and 192 in late June, per the WARN Act. In total, Deere has announced nearly 1,500 layoffs across Iowa so far in 2024.
The Bruegger's Bagels union in Iowa City was voted down, but the fight isn't over, says former Bruegger's worker and organizer Juniper Hollis. Hollis blamed "extreme union busting tactics" by the company, including the closing of the Coralville store where Hollis worked. The union has filed eight unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. "Bruegger's has broken the law several times in their attempts at stifling our campaign, and we aren't going to just let that go," Hollis said.
Continuing the strike: Around 60 workers at Performance Pipe in Bloomfield (affiliated with the International Association of Machinists Local 1293) went on strike June 26. Workers say the company isn't providing them a livable wage, is attacking work-life balance, and refusing to alleviate concerns around retirement. The Iowa AFL-CIO says supporters can picket with them (or drop off supplies) at 412 230th St. in Bloomfield.
Davenport cooks win overtime pay: Eighteen cooks at two El Compita Mexican Bar and Grill restaurants in Davenport won $48,914 in back wages and damages after the Department of Labor found the company illegally refused to pay them overtime. (If you need help getting your rightful pay, start here.)
A Trump judge just blocked the FTC's ban on noncompete clauses, which the FTC banned in April. The good news: The ruling right now only affects the two plaintiffs who filed suit against it; a judge will rule on whether to apply it nationwide later this summer.
What does Project 2025 have to do with the workplace? From gutting diversity programs to dismantling unions in favor of "employee organizations" (that the bosses like), the conservative playbook if Trump is returned to the presidency would harm workers. Here are three ways how (Forbes).
More than 24% of Iowans earn less than a living wage: That's according to a new report from Oxfam, which found $17 per hour to be the minimum needed to afford basic costs. For Iowa women of color, that number is even starker: 45% of Latinas and 47% of Black women earn under $17/hour.
Voting on a union: 36 bricklayers and mason helpers at 5G Masonry in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story, and Warren counties will vote on whether to unionize with Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 next Tuesday.
Iowa layoffs coming up:
- FD Treats in Hawarden is closing and laying off 36 workers by Friday.
- Cygnus Home Services, or Yelloh, is laying off eight workers in Cedar Falls, 16 workers in Des Moines, five workers in DeWitt, and five workers in Humboldt by July 27.
- Tyson Foods in Perry is still closing, but slowly: 32 workers will be laid off by July 27, another 32 workers by Aug. 24, and the remaining five workers by Sept. 28.
- Amcor in Des Moines is laying off one worker by Aug. 1, and nine workers by Sept. 1.
- Wells Fargo in West Des Moines is laying off 26 workers by Aug. 11, and 10 workers by Aug. 25.

Before you punch out 🐘

This week, in a first, Teamsters president Sean O'Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention, railing against big business and trying to convince Republicans gathered there to back working folks.

This, labor journalists like Hamilton Nolan argued, was "stupid," least of all because both Trump and his new vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance have long been in cahoots with the rich. (Oh, and the fact that not a single Republican supports the PRO Act.)

Meanwhile, the Iowa Teamsters are done playing nice with Republicans (working to reverse the gutting of public sector bargaining).

Iowa Starting Line is free to read, thanks to your support.

Our mailing address is:
Iowa Starting Line
PO Box 42111
Urbandale, IA 50323

Want Starting Line texts? Sign up here.

Would you recommend this newsletter to your friends and family?

You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
Courier Newsroom
611 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003-4303

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.