Workers at Starbucks in Portland’s Old Port vote to form a union

Workers at the Starbucks in Portland’s Old Port voted Monday to form a union.

News Center Maine reported that the employees voted 10-3 to unionize.

Starbucks barista Mandie Cantrell in Tommy’s Park, across the street from the Starbucks. Cantrell led the effort to unionize at the Old Port store. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Monday’s vote comes several weeks after the employees announced their intention to form a union. Workers at the Starbucks at the corner of Middle and Exchange streets notified the company in August of their intent to organize and join Starbucks Workers United. Their hope is that a contract will result in higher pay and better working conditions. The outcome of Monday’s vote drew support on Twitter.

“Congratulations Portland Starbucks workers on your overwhelming union election victory. Your solidarity is an inspiration to us all!” the Maine AFL-CIO tweeted.

The Old Port Starbucks is the second in Maine to join a nationwide push among Starbucks workers to unionize and ask for better working conditions. In July, Starbucks workers at the Biddeford store on Alfred Street voted 9-3 to join the union, saying they were tired of seeing co-workers leave because of inconsistent scheduling and low pay.

Howard Schultz, the billionaire founder of Starbucks who returned as CEO last spring after leaving three years earlier, has urged workers to vote against unionization, but the movement has grown.

In the past year, 216 of Starbucks’ 9,000 U.S. locations have voted to unionize, while workers at 46 stores have voted against it. Similar campaigns have been launched at other major companies, including Amazon. In Maine, workers at Maine Medical Center, the Bangor Daily News, the Portland Museum of Art, Bates College, Waterville KVCAP, Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit and the Kittery Water District have voted to unionize in the past year.

Old Port union organizer barista Mandie Cantrell told News Center Maine on Monday that the majority of the Portland coffee shop’s 16 employees wanted to unionize, though only 13 voted Monday. The next step is negotiating a contract.