At Starbucks Korea, the first union chapter in the domestic franchise coffee industry has been established.
According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Korean Chemical, Textile & Food Workers' Union (KCTFU) on the 19th, Starbucks Korea workers joined the KCTFU on the 16th and launched the Starbucks chapter.
The chapter cited staff shortages and increased workloads due to frequent promotions, low wages, and irregular schedules as the background for forming the union.
The chapter said, "Every time, the company limited channels for communicating with partners through a nominal method called 'empathy sessions,' and, instead of direct solutions, papered over immediate issues by placating and coaxing," adding, "While ignoring partners' demands, it unilaterally rolled out even more burdensome events and operating policies than before," explaining the reason for forming the union.
The chapter also argued that as the number of workers scheduled per time slot has continued to decline while promotions and events have increased, the workload on store workers has intensified. It also pointed to wages insufficient to make a living, schedules that make it hard to hold side jobs, and difficulties in the process of filing for industrial accident compensation as issues needing improvement.
Even before forming the union, Starbucks Korea workers had demanded more staffing and better treatment from the company through truck protests and wreath protests. In 2021 and 2024, they carried out collective actions centered on an anonymous office-worker community to publicize excessive workloads and staffing shortages.
Starbucks Korea directly employs workers at stores nationwide. The total number of employees is about 23,000.
Regarding the union's formation, Starbucks Korea said it "will communicate with the union in accordance with relevant laws and regulations."