by Erin Joyce ’25
October 31, 2023
The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the writer and do not reflect the views of University School of Nashville or the Peabody Press.
One key staple of the offerings within USN’s current boundaries is the ubiquitous Starbucks. It’s the largest coffee chain in the U.S. and the main source of handcrafted caffeine for students and teachers alike. Its convenience is its biggest draw, but is it clouding the USN community’s vision?
Starbucks offers a plethora of perks: $17.50 an hour pay and healthcare benefits for even just part time employees, but the company’s relationship with unions is notoriously terrible. They’ve gotten into legal battles with unionized workers fighting for better working conditions in Starbucks cafés as close to home as Memphis. As of March 26, the company had over 500 charges filed against them with the National Labor Relations Board for unfair labor practices. The NLRB’s final report stated that “Starbucks has engaged in the most significant union-busting campaign in modern history.”
Unions forming in an age of rapidly advancing technology and inflation have garnered national attention, with many high-profile industry strikes taking place in recent months. However, there’s been a lack of activity in Nashville in all except one: coffee.
Nashville’s coffee scene has undergone tumultuous changes as of late. Barista Parlor, a popular small chain, had to close several of its locations over the summer after workers—who cited wage theft and poor working conditions—went on strike for several weeks. Workers from Three Brothers Coffee, another local spot, joined them in the strike, citing similar issues with their own workplace.
Starbucks, however, was noticeably absent from the uproar. The events in Memphis, which took place in 2022 after Starbucks illegally fired 12 workers for attempting to unionize their workplace, caused a nationwide distaste for unionizing that took particular effect in Nashville.
This might make customers uneasy: when you order from a local coffee shop, there’s a certainty that your purchase is benefitting Nashville’s local economy. While Three Brothers had its problems over the past year, there are other local coffee shops in close proximity to USN without such difficulties. OSA Coffee is just East of USN on Edgehill. They provide walk-up service and delicious coffee that they roast in-house.
If USN were to expand the boundaries Eastward, students would have the option to freely enjoy more of Nashville’s local coffee offerings, sans the bitter taste of labor violations. USN students have rare agency: if the community were to take initiative, the boundaries could be expanded with ease.
The question is, will we use it? Or are we satisfied with getting the dregs?
