University Honors

Starbuck’s is the number one leading coffee company with over thirty-thousand locationsacross the world, while keeping a strong brand image. In 2021, Starbucks had the first store inBuffalo New York petition to unionize while over 300 stores slowly followed. Starbucks workersjoined Starbucks Workers United in hopes to improve working conditions and safety concerns.Now almost two years later, both Starbucks and their workers are in unknown territory that createschallenges amongst managers and their employees due to this stand still. I plan to uncover thechallenges and dynamics of managerial behaviors under the conditions of labor uncertainty alongthe lines of unionized versus non-unionized Starbucks locations. This capstone will uncover thedynamic of factors such as workforce demands, collective bargaining and shifts in the labormarket. I will go into detail around the unionization efforts, the process of negotiations betweenStarbucks and Workers United, and Starbucks adaptation to the evolving labor practices that havebeen put into place. I will also focus on Starbucks leadership approaches and how it relates to thechallenges between emotions with the partners and members of leadership who are not involvedwith the Union. Next, I will go into detail about the challenges managers and employees face withindividual reactions regarding strikes and walkouts, and what this means for Starbucks as a whole.This research will include how Starbucks can navigate this labor uncertainty while upholding theirthird-place standards and ethical employment practices.