You are reading

Astoria Starbucks Workers Announce Plans to Form Union, First in Queens

Workers at the Starbucks location at 30-18 Astoria Blvd. have announced plans to unionize (GMaps)

March 18, 2022 By Christian Murray

A Starbucks in Astoria has announced plans to unionize, the first location in Queens to do so.

Workers at the 30-18 Astoria Blvd. store sent a letter to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announcing their intention to form a union and their legal right to do so.

“Starbucks continues to cling to an outdated reputation as a progressive corporation, yet during a period of record company revenues, these profits are not reflected where it matters most,” the letter reads. “Through the global pandemic we have been faced with increased responsibilities, questionable health and safety protocols, and irregular hours, with inadequate compensation to show for it.”

The Astoria Starbucks is part of a wave of unionization across the country, with workers in more than 100 locations in more than 19 states organizing unions. The first Starbucks location to unionize was in Buffalo, NY, in December.

The Astoria employees have the backing of local elected officials, with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Mike Gianaris, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and Council Member Tiffany Cabán writing a joint letter to Schultz in their support. The letter calls on Schultz to agree to fair election principles ahead of the union vote.

“As elected officials representing this store at the local, state and federal levels, we stand in solidarity with Starbucks partners at Astoria Boulevard and 31st Street and urge you to respect their right to organize.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 
Jefferson's Ghost

Always nice when Globalists like Schultz get a taste of the left-wing monster they’ve created.

3
1
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Silvercup Studios partners with local schools to foster next-generation filmmakers in Queens

Long before it was one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the nation, Long Island City was an industrial town along the polluted East River, where generations recall the only good smell emanated from the Gordon Baking Company producing the Silvercup brand of bread.

After it was shuttered in a bitter labor dispute in the mid-70s, nearby factory owner Harry Suna of Kew Gardens purchased the property at 42-25 21 St. in 1980, and his architect sons Stuart and Alan began drawing up the plans to repurpose the property into Silvercup Studios, which launched in 1983 and rapidly became one of New York City’s largest film and production facilities, with nearly a half million square feet of studio space and 19 sound stages.

Op-ed: Astoria is doing just fine, the thriving restaurant scene

Feb. 10, 2025 By Neil Herdan

There is no doubt these are very challenging times for Astoria businesses. The cost of many essentials, such as spare parts and food products, has increased. Conversely, labor costs, labor shortages, energy bills, and property insurance have skyrocketed. Some businesses, such as Retro on Broadway, lost their leases. Others, including Chez Olivia and Trattoria L’incontro, decided to move out of Astoria altogether. A few longtime owners decided to retire.