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The Starbucks Coffee in the Chapters on 1 Avenue S. in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

Lethbridge Starbucks workers to hold unionization vote

Jul 8, 2022 | 10:26 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Workers at five Starbucks locations in Lethbridge are one step closer to potentially unionizing.

In May 2022, United Steelworkers (USW) filed an application with the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) to hold a union certification vote on behalf of the 115 local employees.

READ MORE: Lethbridge Starbucks workers attempting to unionize

On Friday, July 8, 2022, a spokesperson for USW confirmed to LNN that the vote application was successful.

They said the vote would be done via a mail-in ballot, with submissions due by July 15, 2022. USW said it has not heard from the ALRB as to when the votes will be counted, but it’s expected to be within a few days after the vote closes on July 15.

“We don’t have any further comment at this time until the vote is finalized,” the spokesperson stated.

A Starbucks spokesperson issued the following statement to LNN.

“Regarding the Labour Board’s approval to hold a unionization vote, we continue to believe that Starbucks success—past, present and future—is built on how we partner together, always with Our Mission and Values at our core,” read the statement.

Starbucks adds in its statement, “From the beginning, we’ve been clear in our belief that we are better together as partners, without a union between us at Starbucks, and that conviction has not changed. We continue to respect our partners’ right to organize or not to organize, and we will respect the process.”

The five Starbucks locations attempting to form a union are:

  • Lethbridge Chapters – store # 4372
  • Mayor Magrath South – store # 4839
  • South Lethbridge – store # 57949
  • Mayor Magrath Drive North – store # 55870
  • West Lethbridge Towne Centre – store # 4628

USW confirmed that another unionization vote is occurring at the Millrise Starbucks location in Calgary. Submissions are due Friday, July 8, with votes to be counted on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.