STARBUCKS workers in New York have won their first victory in a bid for union recognition after the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) ruled on Thursday that voting would take place branch by branch.

“With this decision, we will now have the ability to win the first unionised Starbucks in the US ensuring our right to organise,” campaign organisers said.

Employees at three stores in the Buffalo region of New York state launched a unionisation campaign earlier this year.

They cited a chaotic work environment, erratic hours and difficulty in taking sick leave during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The workers, numbering between 20 and 30 in each of the three outlets, penned an open letter to Starbucks chief executive Kevin Johnson on behalf of the Starbucks Workers United organising committee.

“We are organising a union to have a voice on the job, a say in the company and the right to negotiate a fair contract,” they said.

But instead of listening to workers, the global coffee shop chain has waged a relentless anti-union campaign in the three branches, including inviting workers to “intimidating one-to-one meetings” and bombarding staff with propaganda.

It is alleged that union-busting firm Little Mendelson has been employed to lead mandatory “anti-union meetings” for all workers.

Starbucks is also alleged to have mobilised managers from across the country to go to Buffalo for three months “to help stop the union.”

Bosses had appealed to the NLRB to hold the vote at all 20 of its Buffalo branches on Tuesday in a bid to make it harder for organisers to win a majority in favour of the union. 

It is a tactic used by Amazon in a recent successful union-bashing campaign.

But this was rejected by the board on Thursday, handing a major victory to the Starbucks unionisation drive.

The day before, bosses announced improvements to wages and conditions across all their US coffee shops, pledging that workers will earn will earn at least $15 (£10.90) – and up to $23 (£16.71) – per hour by next summer.

Those with two or more years of service will get a 5 per cent rise, while those with five or more years of service could receive 10 per cent, said Starbucks North America president Rossann Williams.

Starbucks Workers United spokeswoman Michelle Eisen welcomed the move and said that she was “glad that our union campaign has already resulted in some improvements across the country.”

However, she added that Starbucks has had 50 years to offer such an increase.

“They chose to do so right before the upcoming union vote. We look forward to making more improvements when we negotiate our contract,” Ms Eisen said.

“With a seat at the table and a voice on the job, we will be able to form a true partnership with management and democratically decide on our working conditions.” 

Union elections will take place at three coffee shops, Camp Road, Genese Street and Elmwood, between November 10 and December 8, with the results announced the following day.