Hamilton Starbucks employees join the United Steelworkers union

HAMILTON, Ontario, Sept. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workers at a downtown Hamilton Starbucks store are the coffee chain’s latest employees in Canada to join the United Steelworkers union (USW).

After reaching out to the USW, workers at the Starbucks location at 112 King St. E. quickly came together to organize their union, and in a labour ministry-supervised vote, they chose to join the Steelworkers.

The USW represents workers at several Starbucks locations in Ontario and Western Canada.

“The workers in Hamilton chose the USW to help address issues and concerns that are similar to what we’ve heard from other Starbucks partners who successfully negotiated collective agreements after joining our union,” said Anita Bryan, Co-ordinator of USW District 6 (representing Ontario and Atlantic Canada).

Issues raised by the Hamilton workers include:

• Health and safety concerns – particularly customer abuse and harassment;
• A time and attendance policy with unclear rules that could lead to dismissal;
• A lack of recognition for seniority and limited opportunities for long-standing employees;
• The effect on workers of corporate changes focused on higher prices and increased volume;
• A need for a clear wage structure and solid benefits that cannot be changed whenever Starbucks shifts its approach to the business.
  
  

“The next stage for these members will be to elect their bargaining committee and prepare for contract negotiations. Our union will stand by these workers and provide the support and resources they need to negotiate their first collective agreement,” said USW organizer Meg Grimes.

“I congratulate these Starbucks workers on their determination to form a union to address issues that affect their working and living standards. They came together, stood strong and won,” said USW District 6 Director Kevon Stewart.

“They simply expect what all workers deserve – stability, fairness and a real voice in the decisions affecting them at work,” Stewart said.

For more information on unionizing Starbucks locations or getting involved, visit imaginebetter.work/starbucks.

About the United Steelworkers union

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union’s strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.

Media contacts:

Kevon Stewart, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792
Meg Grimes, USW Organizing, mgrimes@usw.ca
Denis St. Pierre, USW Communications, 647-522-1630, dstpierre@usw.ca