Catherwood LibraryILR School

Starbucks Workers United represents unionized Starbucks workers around the country, and the union has been fighting for union recognition from Starbucks over the past two years but has been met with aggressive union-busting strategies from the company. Starbucks Workers United proposed a boycott on September 14th to apply consumer pressure on Starbucks. The union has declared September 14th to be a nationwide Day of Action, and Starbucks Workers United is hoping that this action will push Starbucks to finally recognize unions and begin negotiations for union contracts. A Starbucks boycott has happened before, and Cornell University students boycotted Starbucks on campus to protest against Starbucks’ unfair and illegal labor practices. Starbucks shut down all three unionized locations in Ithaca, while still serving Starbucks products in cafes on Cornell’s campus. The consumer boycott action pushed the university to end its contract with Starbucks, and the boycott has pushed other universities to consider removing Starbucks from their campuses as well.