San Diego Starbucks supervisor petitions to dissolve store union after holiday strike

A San Diego Starbucks shift supervisor, Joe Emmenegger, has initiated a campaign to dissolve the store’s union, Starbucks Workers United, after claiming supervisors were excluded from key negotiations, including an open-ended strike that started on Nov. 13, 2025. Emmenegger, who joined the already-unionized location in 2024, says he only discovered his inclusion in the bargaining unit through personal research. He collected signatures from about 64% of the roughly 16 to 18 employees, and the petition is now pending before the National Labor Relations Board.

While he acknowledges unions can be beneficial, he argues the union’s actions during the holiday strike left workers without hours and created stress for families. The effort coincides with a new coalition backed by the Center for Union Facts, which seeks greater union transparency. Recent Gallup polling shows mixed public sentiment toward unions, with favorability dropping after exposure to corruption scandals. Starbucks Workers United continues negotiations with the company, urging consumer boycotts to pressure a contract agreement.