Starbucks Japan Workers Form Labor Union

Employees at Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. stores announced on Nov. 29 that they have formed a labor union and plan to call for workers at the coffee giant's and other companies' cafes nationwide to join.

The Starbucks Union Japan was formed on Nov. 1 and currently has three members. I Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう

This is believed to be the first time a labor union has been formed by Starbucks Japan staff, as reported by Miyuki Fujisawa for Mainichi Shimbun.

The Starbucks Union Japan was formed on Nov. 1 and currently has three members. The union is calling on the company to raise wages, reduce labor shortages, and permit employees to wear badges and other accessories that represent sexual diversity.

Members are also requesting that Starbucks Japan install chairs at cash registers and establish a system for reinstating employees after they have studied abroad.

One of the founding members, Souru Kawabata, 23, who works as a regular employee at a Starbucks store in Tokyo, was hired under the company's employment system for people with disabilities and earns approximately 160,000 yen (about $1,100) per month, excluding tax.

According to the Shutoken Seinen Union (metropolitan youth union), of which Kawabata is a member, he sent a written petition to the company this July that asked for a wage increase and other improvements.

Kawabata also held a collective bargaining session, but the company apparently rejected all of his demands.

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