Starbucks baristas at the store located at 300 E. Lincoln Highway in Exton are the first in Chester County to file a petition for a union election since the workers at the coffee giant started organizing three years ago, writes Kenny Cooper for the WHYY.

The petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board earlier this week.

“For my partners and I, unionizing means a chance to have our voices heard and our hard work acknowledged,” said barista Hannah Linkowsky. “Working for this company for so long, at several different locations, has shown me the loyalty partners have to their stores and coworkers, and that’s exactly what’s motivating us to negotiate for better working conditions.”

Since 2021, Starbucks Workers United has grown to include over 470 stores nationwide.

“At Starbucks we believe that our direct relationship as partners is core to the experiences we create in our stores, and we respect our partners’ rights to have a choice on the topic of unions,” said company spokesperson Jay Go Guasch. “We are committed to delivering on our promise to offer a bridge to a better future to all Starbucks partners.”

The union is hoping that contracts for this store and others who have filed will be completed by the end of the year.

Read more about the Exton Starbucks filing for a union election in the WHYY.

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