Amazon, Starbucks, and REI unions in Seattle face the Trump administration's era

May Day 2023: Seattle Unions Battle at a Standstill Under the Second Trump NLRB

As May Day rolls around, fledgling unions in Seattle-area titans are grappling with stalled negotiations, fearing that their campaigns may never break through the ice under the second Trump administration's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Last year, labor activity in Washington state saw a surge, with workers from major Seattle corporations like Starbucks, REI, and others filing for union representation.

This May Day, protesters plan to gather at noon Thursday, Cal Anderson Park for a rally, rallying for workers and immigrants rights. If history repeats itself, hundreds are expected to flood downtown Seattle's streets.

On the Horizon: Planned Protests

Starbucks Workers United and REI's union claim that momentum is building. In December, the Starbucks union declared a five-day strike at some of the busiest cafes across the country, including the iconic Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill.

REI's union, representing workers at 11 stores including one in Washington, is also attempting to iron out a contract. However, they allege that the outdoor retail co-op hasn't shown up to the table and has instead dispatched representatives from a law firm.

Amazon workers have filed for unionization as well, though it remains confined to the company's warehouse workforce and has yet to reach Washington.

A Stalled Labor Board

Under President Donald Trump, the NLRB moved at a snail's pace. With only two of the board's five seats filled, decisions can no longer be made. While contracts can still be negotiated, and unfair labor practice charges can still be filed, any disputes are being sent into limbo.

The unions won their elections and started bargaining for contracts under the Biden administration and a more labor-friendly NLRB. However, significant decisions from the NLRB, such as the ruling that Amazon violated its workers' rights by holding "captive audience" meetings to discuss unionization, were made during the Biden administration.[1]

Yet, these victories were short-lived. Former NLRB chair Lauren McFerran, who issued these rulings, had her renomination rejected by the Senate in December, paving the way for a Republican majority on the five-member board.[2]

Trump swiftly fired NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and board member Gwynne Wilcox, both of whom were nominated by President Joe Biden, soon after taking office. Both Wilcox and Abruzzo are contesting their dismissals.

Today, the board stands at two members and lacks a quorum, effectively paralyzing it.[3][4]

The Board in Limbo

The Trump administration has left the board in a precarious position. Sharon Block, a Harvard law professor and former NLRB member, has argued that, without a functioning NLRB, "workers in this country right now do not have an effective right to collective bargaining."[2]

Yet, Sean Embly, the director of organizing for UFCW 3000, argues that the conversation about the NLRB gets "a little lost." REI's union, which is affiliated with UFCW, is pushing for higher wages, job protection, more staffing in stores, and guaranteed minimum hours. They've even rallied REI members to withhold their vote during REI's ongoing board member election.[2]

Recent labor activity in Washington, such as Starbucks Workers United’s ongoing campaigns, may face indirect challenges from the diminished NLRB capacity, but these groups continue to campaign and advocate under the existing framework while litigation proceeds.

"The board has never been what gives workers power," Embly said. "We've seen REI try to hide behind the Trump board and use it as a shield to do what they want. The employer has the opportunity to change course and get back to their co-op values and settle the contract."

[1] Amazon Violated Workers' Rights by Holding Captive Audience Meetings (source)

[2] May Day 2025: Where Protests are Planned in Seattle (source)

[3] NLRB Paralyzed After Gwynne Wilcox's Firing (source)

[4] Legal Challenges Over Presidential Authority Undermine NLRB (source)

Unions in Seattle, like Starbucks Workers United and REI's union, anticipate a surge in momentum for their campaigns, following their recent worker protests and strikes.
This May Day, protesters in Seattle, Washington, plan to rally at Cal Anderson Park at noon, advocating for workers' and immigrants' rights, echoing the events of previous years.
Amazon workers in Washington state have expressed intentions to unionize, joining the ranks of other Seattle corporations, but their efforts are currently confined to the company's warehouse workforce.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), under President Trump, progressed at a snail's pace, with only two occupied seats, leading to the limbo of unresolved disputes.
When the Biden administration took office, the new NLRB made significant decisions, such as the ruling that Amazon violated workers' rights, but these victories have been halted due to the rejection of renominations and firings in the Trump administration.
Without a quorum, the paralyzed NLRB stands in a precarious position, potentially impacting ongoing union campaigns like Starbucks Workers United, but these groups continue to campaign and advocate under the existing framework while legal challenges proceed.
As the NLRB faces this bottleneck, some union leaders argue that the board has never been the primary source of workers' power, with the employer holding the fundamental control over change.