Winds of Starbucks Union Formation Blow in Japan Following the US

Mainly in their 20s... Started with 3 union members
Wage increase and staffing demands expected

A Starbucks labor union has been formed in Japan. In Japan, where labor disputes are relatively rare compared to other countries, the formation of a Starbucks union primarily composed of people in their 20s has attracted attention. They plan to demand wage increases and other improvements through collective bargaining in the future.

On the 30th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that employees working at Starbucks Japan held a press conference the previous day to announce the formation of Japan's first Starbucks union, named 'Starbucks Union Japan.'

Established on the 1st of last month, the union currently has three members, including part-time student workers and full-time employees. Before forming the union, they had been demanding wage improvements since August through the 'Metropolitan Youth Union.' However, negotiations with management were sluggish, leading them to choose union formation as a course of action, Nikkei reported.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

They stated, "The minimum wage in Tokyo is 1,113 yen per hour (about 9,800 won), but employees working at Tokyo Starbucks stores earn an hourly wage of 1,170 yen," adding, "Aside from student part-time wages, the monthly salaries of other union members working under Starbucks' 'Challenge Partner' program for employing people with disabilities are all treated similarly to the minimum wage."

At the press conference, 20-year-old union member Kawabata Souru, who works under Starbucks' disability employment system, said, "My take-home pay is only about 160,000 yen (1.4 million won) per month," and appealed, "The wages are low, making it difficult to live. I want to create a workplace where not only I but others can work with peace of mind."

Another union member, Maeda Sorami, worked part-time for four years but decided to quit to study abroad. Although she wants to work again after returning, if she is reinstated, her wages will not recognize her previous experience, and she will receive a new employee wage. Maeda emphasized the need to establish a reinstatement system, saying, "(Wages and experience) have to start from 'zero.' This is a big problem for international students."

She added, "I am proud to work at Starbucks. However, without workers, corporate value cannot be increased," and stressed, "Wages commensurate with labor must be paid."

In addition to wage increases, they also demanded solutions to labor shortages, permission to wear accessories such as badges representing diverse genders, and the installation of chairs at cash registers. They stated, "We will encourage participation from employees working at cafes nationwide, including other companies." Going forward, the union plans to communicate through social networking services (SNS) and provide labor consultations via the Youth Union website.

Foreign media have paid attention to the fact that a union centered on people in their 20s was established in Japan, where labor disputes are relatively rare compared to other countries.

Nikkei analyzed that the formation of this union was likely influenced by the U.S. Starbucks union strike. Starbucks has long maintained a no-union management policy, but in the U.S., following the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting labor shortages, unions demanding improved treatment were formed, and union membership movements spread, causing conflicts with the company. The U.S. Starbucks union went on strike on the 16th, demanding wage increases and additional staffing.

A Starbucks Japan public relations representative acknowledged in a phone call with Nikkei that collective bargaining had taken place through the Youth Union and stated, "We will seriously listen to employees' voices and move forward together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.