Starbucks Members at Safeway: you have the right to be paid properly!

A reminder to all Starbucks members who relieve the person in charge: you are entitled to a 50 cent premium on top of your regular wage.

Concerns have been brought forward to the union from some UFCW 1518 Starbucks members regarding them not receiving their proper premium pay when relieving the person in charge.  

The issue of premium pay is clearly spelled out in Letter of Understanding #7 (LOU #7) in the Safeway contract (see below), and the union is currently investigating the situation on behalf of Starbucks members.

Point 5 in Letter of Understanding #7 (LOU #7) in the Safeway contract states: 

“There shall be one (1) person (supervisor) in charge of each “Coffee Bar.” That person shall receive a premium of one dollar ($1.00) per hour for all hours worked as part of their regular workweek. For days off and other periods of absence, such as vacations, sickness, etc., a person relieving the person in charge shall receive a premium of fifty cents ($0.50) per hour for the hours worked in that capacity. It is also understood that the person relieving for vacations or other absences shall work the same workweek as the supervisor.” (Please see page 203 and 204 of the Safeway contract for more language regarding in-store Starbucks coffee bars.)

One Starbucks member in the Okanagan who was not receiving her proper premium pay last year was compensated for all of her premium time that store management failed to pay her. The member was paid after she brought the issue forward. 

If any Starbucks members are experiencing problems, and you believe you are not being paid properly as outlined in LOU #7 above, please contact your full-time Union Representative so the matter can be investigated and promptly rectified. (If you're not sure who your Union Representative is, please click here).