Latest News

Workers at Edmonton’s Kingsway Ave. Starbucks vote to join the United Steelworkers union

July 2, 2024
Welcome to the USW family

EDMONTON – Starbucks workers at the Kingsway Ave. & 117 St. store in Edmonton have voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union. There are over 25 partners at the store and will become members of USW Local 1-207.

“This is such an exciting step forward for us at Kingsway drive-thru! I’m so proud of all my fellow partners who have worked so hard to get us here and I’m excited to see what the future holds for us,” said Vala Ingolfsson, a Kingsway Starbucks partner.

The Kingsway store joins now joins several other unionized locations in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario who have recently joined the USW.

“I hope that our success encourages other Starbucks partners in Edmonton to consider how USW could support their stores and workers’ needs,” added Ingolfsson.

“We are thrilled to welcome more Starbucks workers into our union family,” said Scott Lunny, USW Director for Western Canada. “The partners at the Kingsway Starbucks are joining the increasing number of Starbucks workers across Canada who are organizing for improved working conditions and wages. We look forward to supporting these workers as they unite to be heard and get the respect they deserve from Starbucks.”

The Kingsway Starbucks becomes the fifth unionized store in Alberta with the USW. An application for a sixth store in Calgary remains under review with the Alberta Labour Relations Board following a sealed vote.

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.

Workers interested in joining the United Steelworkers union can learn more about the benefits at betterworknow.ca/starbucks.

Join our newsletter

Media Contact

Scott Lunny
USW Western Canada Director
604-329-5308
slunny@usw.ca

Brett Barden
USW Communications
604-445-6956
bbarden@usw.ca

Recent news

Featured image for What is Ottawa waiting for, before it takes stronger action against steel dumping?

What is Ottawa waiting for, before it takes stronger action against steel dumping?

November 6, 2026 | Media Releases

Layoffs coming at Nova Tube, more uncertainty in the steel sector MONTREAL – The United Steelworkers union (USW) is publicly asking how many more jobs must be lost, or steel plants closed, before the federal government takes stronger action to crack down on unfair trade that is harming Canada’s steel industry. The USW has learned […]

Highland Valley Copper Hot Edict

BCFED issues hot edict in USW strike at Highland Valley Copper operation

November 6, 2026 | Media Releases

USW District 3 welcomes the BC Federation of Labour’s declaration of a hot edict on mineral products and by-products from Teck’s Highland Valley Copper operation. This is a powerful show of solidarity with more than 1,200 members of USW Local 7619 who have been on strike since October 24, fighting for fair wages, pensions, adequate […]

Image for Budget makes progress, but more work must be done: Steelworkers

Budget makes progress, but more work must be done: Steelworkers

November 5, 2026 | Statements

TORONTO – The United Steelworkers union (USW) issued the following statement in response to the federal budget 2026: “The United Steelworkers welcomes federal investments in Canada’s forestry and wood products sector, as well as in the critical minerals industry. These are important steps toward the industrial strategy Canada needs. But we cannot build the industries […]