A Guardian survey of more than 130 Starbucks workers at union and nonunion stores found premiums set to rise from Oct. 1, with some nearly doubling. Several said they expect to drop coverage; baristas described trade-offs with household bills and medication.
In Edina, Minnesota, Kaye-Lani Story said her weekly premium for herself and her son is set to rise from $130 to $170. In Woods Cross, Utah, Cory Wagner said his premium rose from $70 to $122 per biweekly paycheck. He relies on heart medication and said he must weigh it against utility bills, groceries and gas to get to work.
Starbucks Workers United began a boycott as it sought what would be its first union contract. Workers at more than 700 stores have voted to unionize, and the union says it represents more than 12,000 employees. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge, saying Starbucks did not answer its request for information about the increases and whether Starbucks changed its healthcare contribution. A spokesperson did not comment on the charge, but said healthcare costs are rising nationally and the company remains committed to coverage for full- and part-time workers from 20 hours a week.
