Baristas at the Starbucks store on Massa Drive in Kingston have voted to unionize, becoming the first Starbucks location in the Hudson Valley to achieve union representation. In a decisive 12 to 4 vote on January 23rd, the workers joined Starbucks Workers United, a national movement representing more than 11,000 baristas across over 540 stores.
The victory at Massa Drive is part of a larger surge in union activity across the United States, particularly within Starbucks stores. Since February 2024, over 140 Starbucks locations have successfully voted to unionize, with organizing efforts reaching from Maine to Texas to the company’s own Seattle headquarters. The Kingston victory reflects a growing frustration among workers nationwide about low wages, inconsistent scheduling, and perceived inequities within the company.
Shift supervisor Jasmine Rufe expressed optimism about the union’s potential to improve conditions for employees. “After spending many years with the company, I am sad to see several of their decisions and how they have impacted partners [employees],” says Rufe. “I am hoping for better conditions for me and my coworkers that I care for, which has led up to this moment. Here’s to better times ahead!”
Barista Kian Mccomb attributed the decision to unionize to mounting frustration with management’s lack of responsiveness to employee concerns. “I think the decision came from a frustration that we were practically pleading for help from higher-ups and were being told ‘this is how it is’ and to suck it up,” says Mccomb. “This is while many of us are struggling to make ends meet while our CEO is comfy in private jets.”
The Kingston vote follows the largest strike in Starbucks history, during which 5,000 workers shut down over 300 stores on Christmas Eve to protest what they described as unfair labor practices. Starbucks Workers United has since filed more than 90 unfair labor practice charges, accusing the company of backtracking on commitments to collective bargaining.
The labor movement has seen renewed energy at the national level. Union membership nationwide grew in 2023 after decades of decline, buoyed by high-profile victories in industries ranging from education to entertainment. Despite the increase in membership, the percentage of the workforce that is unionized (unionization rate) slightly declined due to faster growth in non-union jobs. In New York State, where unions have traditionally maintained a strong foothold, 20 percent of the workforce was unionized as of 2023—more than double the national average of 10.1 percent.
Regionally, the Hudson Valley has witnessed a series of labor wins in recent years, including union drives among healthcare workers, educators, and warehouse employees. The Kingston Starbucks victory adds to this momentum and may inspire further organizing efforts among the area’s service workers, a sector historically underrepresented in unions.
Starbucks Workers United, which is affiliated with Workers United, has credited its success to peer-to-peer organizing. The union’s grassroots approach has galvanized employees, fostering a sense of solidarity and shared purpose among workers navigating an increasingly challenging economic landscape.
While the Massa Drive workers celebrate their victory, the path ahead is uncertain. Despite the wave of union wins, Starbucks has yet to finalize contracts for many of its unionized stores, prompting ongoing strikes and legal challenges. Workers remain hopeful, however, that their efforts will result in tangible improvements in pay, scheduling, and workplace protections.
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This article appears in January 2025.
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