Johnson City Starbucks joins Workers United movement

JOHNSON CITY — Baristas at the North Roan Street Starbucks voted Wednesday to unionize, according to a press release. They voted to join Starbucks Workers United. "Starbucks calls us 'partners.' Unionizing is how we make that word mean something, and we're proud to be part of the growing movement of stores organizing across the country," Abbie Levans, a Starbucks shift supervisor of six years, said in the release. A national campaign from Starbucks workers began in late 2021 and since then, the release states workers have won a union election every other day. More than 2,000 workers joined Starbucks Workers United in 2025 with an 82%-win rate. The union says it has more than 11,000 baristas across 570+ stores nationwide. Baristas asked for a contract addressing better hours to improve staffing, higher take-home pay and resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practices. The movement stretches across 45 states and the District of Colombia to finalize a fair union contract with pay, hours and protections for baristas, according to the release. In November of 2025, Workers United launched an unfair labor practice strike — the longest work stoppage in Starbucks history. "We all work better when we work together, and unionizing is the leverage for us to have a voice to speak up for what we believe is fair for us," Zared Henry, a barista of five years, said in the release. "How are we expected to live when wages stagnate and workable hours aren't promised, while rent and cost of living increases regularly?"