New Braunfels Starbucks becomes 8th Texas location to vote for union representation

Employees of the first Starbucks location in New Braunfels—located at 697 S. Walnut Ave.—voted 10-4 on Sept. 12 for representation from the Starbucks Workers United union, according to a release from the union and confirmation from Starbucks’ corporate press office.

The unionization push began in June, culminating in the Sept. 12 vote. Starbucks Workers United is an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.

In the statement from Starbucks Workers United, employees of the New Braunfels location said they struggled to afford to live in New Braunfels and the surrounding area despite a recent raise from $12 per hour to $15 per hour and hope to negotiate for higher wages; guaranteed hours; bargaining over changes to workplace organization and conditions; and enabling tipping for credit card transactions, along with other demands. They will join seven other Starbucks locations in Texas in the unionization effort, including locations in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas.

In a response to Community Impact Newspaper, Starbucks’ press office said, “As we’ve said throughout, we will respect the [National Labor Relations Board's] process and bargain in good faith with the stores that chose to be represented by Workers United. We hope the union does the same.”

NLRB case information for the New Braunfels location can be found here.

Zachary Hecker, employee and lead organizer of the New Braunfels location, said Starbucks’ values and mission were not in line with their employees.

“By our confirmation with this union vote, we now have the opportunity for our voices to be heard and to make real change,” Hecker said. “We hope by unionizing a store in New Braunfels, this will encourage other stores in rural areas who feel underrepresented to speak for themselves.”