I liked the idea of unions. Then I joined one at Starbucks. | Opinion - USA Today
New polling finds that more than 70% of Americans approve of unions, but that number might be deceiving. As I recently discovered, liking the idea of unions – and actually wanting to be a part of one – are two very different things.
Unsuspecting workers often join unions that make big promises about improving working conditions but ultimately fail to deliver. In many cases, these unions end up doing more harm than good.
That was unfortunately my experience with Starbucks Workers United.
I first heard about Workers United on social media when the union organized a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York, in 2021. The union seemed to take America by storm, eventually making its way across the country to San Diego, my hometown.
At the time, I was working for Starbucks and happily rising through the ranks. I loved my work, which enabled me to connect with my community as well as my coworkers. Eventually, I moved to a Starbucks location that was organized under Workers United. It was my first direct experience with the union.
From the get-go, I didn’t notice any tangible benefits from the union, like more pay or time off. Instead, it was the pervasive secrecy surrounding the union that struck me.
I soon realized union members purposefully planned and held meetings behind closed doors, and several of my coworkers were told not to share information with other members of the team.
That was the initial red flag. I was part of the bargaining unit, so I expected to have a say in union matters, but I soon realized that the union was not interested in my point of view.
Instead, it was there to serve just a handful of employees – not the entire team.
As time went on, it became clear that this divide would have real consequences for everyone at the store.
In the midst of the 2025 holiday season, the union organized a strike. There was an authorization vote, but several team members, myself included, didn't know about it. We had zero forewarning.
That morning, the first shift arrived before the sun was up, only to receive an email telling them the store wouldn't open that day.
Our involvement in the strike began before Christmas, and our hours started evaporating with no end in sight. This put intense pressure on everyone, but most especially on several of my coworkers who relied on stable hours to support their families.
Instead of protecting my team members, the union put them in a position of wondering if they would be able to afford their children’s Christmas presents.
For me, that was the final straw. Shortly thereafter, I contacted a lawyer to draft a decertification petition, which is part of the formal process to remove a union.
Ultimately, more than 60% of the team signed to decertify, or remove, the union. For perspective, that is twice the amount required by the National Labor Relations Board to initiate a decertification election.
Despite strong support, my store is still fighting through the arduous process of getting the union removed.
I know my experience is not unique. Countless workers across the country end up stuck in unions they want no part of.
My store, like many others, serves as proof that getting rid of a union is not easy, regardless of how detrimental it may be.
Before my experience with Workers United, I thought of unions as a net positive. I still believe they could be, in some other industries or environments. However, when it comes to my workplace and my profession, I know without a doubt this union did not have my best interests at heart.
I only hope more workers don’t have to go through what I did before they ask important questions about whether unions are really worth the trouble.
Joe Emmenegger is a barista in San Diego and a member of the Center for Union Facts Worker Council, a coalition of workers dedicated to transparency and accountability in the labor movement.
