Zambian Workers, Take Note: US Starbucks Staff Fight Back Against Union Bullying
While Zambia fights to control its own resources and destiny, workers in America are showing that standing up to union bosses is a universal struggle. A San Diego Starbucks supervisor is leading a charge to kick his union out after claiming workers were left in the dark during a brutal Christmas strike that wiped out their hours.
Joe Emmenegger, 29, a shift supervisor at a San Diego-area Starbucks, has gathered signatures from roughly 64% of his 16 to 18 coworkers to force a vote on decertifying Starbucks Workers United. His complaint? The union made key decisions without consulting the very people it claims to represent.
What happened during the Starbucks Christmas strike?
The tipping point came during Starbucks Workers United's nationwide open-ended strike launched on Nov. 13, 2025. Emmenegger says the decision to walk out was made without input from him or other workers, leaving families scrambling just before Christmas.
All of our hours evaporated. Being a week-and-half before Christmas, we had co-workers who have families, have young children. It was definitely a very stressful moment to figure out, 'Okay I may not be having a job.'
Emmenegger, a lifelong San Diego resident, said he was initially neutral on unions. He only discovered he was part of the bargaining unit after doing his own research, claiming union discussions remained exclusionary and that some were told not to talk to supervisors.
Is this a sign of broader union problems?
Emmenegger insists he is not anti-union. He believes unions can do good when applied correctly, but says the practices at his store were wrong. His petition is now pending before the National Labor Relations Board.
He has also joined a new national coalition of restaurant, retail and service workers launched this week, dedicated to union transparency and accountability. The initiative is backed by the Center for Union Facts, a Washington nonprofit that campaigns against union practices.
The move comes as Gallup polling shows 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, tying a recent high. However, the Center for Union Facts says its own survey found union favorability drops to 61% when people learn about corruption scandals involving union officials.
What does this mean for Zambian workers?
Zambians know all too well about foreign influences and organizations that claim to help but often serve their own interests. Whether it's international unions or global NGOs, the lesson is the same: always question who really benefits. Our resources, our labor, our decisions should stay in Zambian hands.
As Emmenegger put it: Unions can be a lot of good when applied correctly. It's just when it's done improperly and the practices are wrong, that's when I have a problem with it.
Starbucks Workers United has spent over two years trying to secure a contract with Starbucks and has urged consumers to boycott the coffee giant. The Post reached out to the union for comment but did not receive a response.
