San Diego Starbucks Supervisor Launches Petition to Dissolve Local Union Over Strike Grievances
A San Diego Starbucks shift supervisor has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to dissolve his store's union, citing exclusion from decision-making and the financial impact of a recent open-ended strike. He claims 64% of staff support the move, though the union has not responded to inquiries.
Key points
- Joe Emmenegger, a 29-year-old shift supervisor, gathered signatures from approximately 64% of the 16 to 18 employees at his San Diego-area Starbucks to trigger a vote on decertifying the union.
- Emmenegger claims Starbucks Workers United excluded supervisors from bargaining unit discussions, despite their inclusion in the unit, and that the decision to strike was made without worker input.
- The petition follows the union's open-ended unfair labor practice strike that began on Nov. 13, 2025, which Emmenegger says caused significant stress and lost hours for employees with families.
- The petition is currently pending before the National Labor Relations Board, and Emmenegger reports facing little opposition from coworkers but was labeled a 'scab' by some labor activists.
- Emmenegger joined a new national coalition of service workers backed by the Center for Union Facts, which advocates for union transparency and accountability.
Background
This development occurs amid ongoing national collective bargaining talks between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, which began in February 2024. The union has staged multiple strikes and urged consumer boycotts to pressure the company into a first national framework for union contracts. Recent legal challenges, including a Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling overturning an NLRB decision on a Starbucks dress-code case, have also shaped the landscape of labor relations in the coffee industry.
Why it matters
The case highlights growing tensions within unionized workplaces, where some workers may feel excluded from union decision-making processes. It also reflects broader debates about union accountability and transparency, as evidenced by the launch of a new coalition backed by the Center for Union Facts. The outcome of the NLRB petition could set a precedent for how decertification efforts are handled in unionized retail and service sectors.
What to watch
The National Labor Relations Board will review the petition and determine whether to hold a vote on decertifying the union at the San Diego Starbucks location. Starbucks Workers United has not yet responded to requests for comment, and the union may contest the petition if it proceeds.
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