Georgia union activity hasn’t slowed down in 2024, but since January, workers at Southeastern Paper, U.S. Sugar, and Sherwin-Williams all have voted against unionizing. That said, a group of Nestle warehouse workers in McDonough did unionize in January–and more elections are in the pipeline, including one for stagehands at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. What’s more, national labor movements that affect Georgia baristas and college athletes have gained traction.
As Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) continues to build unionizing momentum, Starbucks corporate has finally agreed to come back to the negotiating table to hammer out a contract–over two years since the first Starbucks store unionized in Buffalo, New York.
Starbucks’ announcement came on the heels of a Feb. 19 letter that the national barista union sent to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, notifying him that SBWU would be filing for union elections at 21 stores that same day. Now, as SBWU unionized its 400th store, Starbucks is returning to the bargaining table.
Other big developments at the national level could affect the local labor scene. Notably, last week basketball players at Dartmouth University became the first college sports team to unionize after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided they were considered employees. This ruling and the Dartmouth Big Green’s March 5 vote to unionize could spark similar pushes in Georgia college athletics.
Meanwhile, a proposed new law before the Georgia Legislature could make it harder for workers to unionize at any company that receives tax breaks or other state economic development incentives.
Here is Atlanta Civic Circle’s breakdown of these developments and our comprehensive round-up of recent local union activity.
SB 362 moves forward in legislature
Senate Bill 362, which passed the state Senate by a 31 to 23 vote and is now under consideration in the House, would prohibit employers receiving state economic development incentives from voluntarily recognizing new unions at their workplace. The legislation is part of Gov. Brian Kemp’s stated “pro-business” agenda and will likely become law in the current legislative session.
Under federal labor law, employers can choose to voluntarily recognize a new union via a card check, if more than half the employees in a workplace sign cards saying they want to join, instead of requiring the workers to hold a union election.
But under SB 362, any Georgia employer receiving economic development incentives from the state would be prohibited from voluntarily recognizing a union through a card check. Instead, they would have to let every union drive go to an official election administered by the NLRB. If these employers do voluntarily recognize a union, they’ll be penalized and forced to pay back the incentives they’ve received.
The Georgia AFL-CIO, which includes the United Auto Workers, and other unions, is pushing back against the bill. Georgia AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer James Williams told Atlanta Civic Circle that SB 362 “takes away a pathway” to unionizing a workplace, and is an example of the “state government dictating business-employee relations.”
Starbucks agrees to resume union contract negotiations
Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United have announced that they’ll return to the bargaining table to hammer out a framework for contract negotiations. This news came as Starbucks Workers United unionized a store in Miami to cross the 400-store mark.
Before negotiations can continue in earnest, the parties will have to work out the specifics of the bargaining procedure–one of the main points of contention. Starbucks corporate has insisted on negotiating separate contracts for each unionized store, instead of a single contract with SBWU. Will the coffee giant allow national SBWU representatives to attend bargaining sessions for each store, whether in person or through Zoom?
Starbucks has also agreed to pay credit card tips and benefits to workers at unionized stores–a contentious point since December 2022 between Starbucks and union members. For context, Starbucks Workers United members started agitating for Starbucks to allow credit card tipping at the inception of the union battle. At the time the coffee giant permitted only cash or Starbucks card tips.
In September 2022, Starbucks instituted credit card tipping–but only for non-union stores. The NLRB backed the union’s challenge to the move, saying withholding credit card tips violates federal labor law by punishing and discriminating against union members. Starbucks has now extended this benefit to union stores.
We’ll be catching up with Georgia’s unionized Starbucks stores to find out whether they’ve scheduled further negotiations with Starbucks corporate. Stay tuned for updates.
Southeastern Paper Group warehouse workers in College Park voted down Teamsters union
Warehouse workers at Southeastern Paper Group, which distributes janitorial supplies, disposable food packaging, and other packaging materials, voted against joining Teamsters Local 528 in Jonesboro. The voting unit was made up of 27 warehouse, maintenance and clerical workers at the company’s College Park facility.
Their secret ballot election took place in late February, and the NLRB released the results on March 8. Workers trying to unionize the College Park facility can file for a new election next year to join either the same Teamsters local or a different union.
But the NLRB on March 5 approved a separate union election at Southeastern Paper Group’s College Park warehouse for 25 drivers. They’ll also decide whether to join Teamsters Local 528.
So did US Sugar Savannah Refinery workers
Workers at US Sugar Savannah Refinery’s Port Wentworth location also voted against unionizing with Teamsters Local 528 in Jonesboro. The voting unit made up of 174 packaging and mechanical employees voted overwhelmingly against unionizing in early February..
Out of 153 votes cast, there were 112 no votes and only 41 votes in favor. The National Labor Relations Board certified the results on February 29.
Nestle warehouse employees in McDonough vote to unionize
Workers at Nestle’s McDonough warehouse voted to join the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union’s Southeast Council in a January election that the NLRB certified on Feb. 1. Of the warehouse’s 62 eligible employees, there were 58votes cast–31 for the union and 27 against–for a narrow union win.
Sherwin-Williams factory workers narrowly vote down union in Lawrenceville
In January, production and maintenance workers at a Sherwin-Williams plant in Lawrenceville voted against joining the International Union of Painters & Allied Trade Local 1961 by the narrowest of margins.
Out of 37 eligible voters, 31 cast ballots–with 16 against the union and 15 in favor during the mid-January election.
Upcoming Union Elections
Meanwhile, the NLRB on March 18 scheduled a union election for 13 stagehands at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The employees will vote on whether to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 927.
Also this month, flight instructors at FlightSafety International in Savannah filed a petition with the NLRB for a union election on March 8. The 99 eligible flight instructors will vote on whether to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
On Valentine’s Day, the NLRB approved a union election for 110 security guards employed by Loomis Armored US in Atlanta. They’ll vote whether to join Local 382 of the United Government Security Officers of America.
Atlanta drivers for UNFI United Natural Foods petitioned the NLRB on Feb. 7 for an election to join TeamstersLocal 728. There are 98 employees eligible to vote.