SCREENING OF “PARTNERS” SHARES INSIDE STORY OF THE STARBUCKS UNION
FIGHT
East Lansing, MI – LERA, in partnership with Working Films invite community members to a free
screening of Partners. The film shares the story of how a group of baristas in Buffalo, New York
announce their intention to form a labor union, and how Starbucks responds with an elaborate
and illegal anti-union campaign. Featuring on-the-ground footage from workers and organizers,
Partners takes us to the front lines of the historic union campaign that catalyzed America’s Gen
Z labor revival. The screening will take place on Tuesday, October 7th, at the MSU Multicultural
Center in Room 1020B.
In 2020, a group of “Inside Organizers” in Buffalo, New York get jobs at Starbucks with the
intention of starting a union. Baristas across Buffalo quickly join the cause. Starbucks catches
on and immediately storms the market with over 100 specially-trained corporate executives and
managers from across the country. An elaborate anti-union campaign ensues, which the federal
government later finds to be the most illegal attack on organizing workers rights in modern
United States history. Drawing from on-the-ground footage captured by workers and organizers,
Partners takes us to the front lines of the labor campaign that inspired over 11,000 Starbucks
workers across the country to organize.
As Human Resources and Labor Relations professionals, it is important for us to stay up to date
on the current labor climate to help us make well-informed decisions throughout our careers.
Partners is a great example of how recent self-organization has impacted not only the general
workforce, but the newly-emerging Gen Z as well. This screening presents a valuable
opportunity to engage with these critical issues and reflect on their implications for the future of
HRLR.
The Partners screening and discussion will run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on 10/07/25. Please
register for the event here:
Partners Screening RSVP.
About LERA
LERA strives to foster an innovative community committed to
transforming workplaces through inclusive dialogue,
education, and advocacy while promoting equitable labor
practices through skill-building, events, and networking.
About Working Films
Founded in 1999, Working Films is a national nonprofit organization based in North Carolina
that leverages the power of documentary films to advance social justice and environmental
protection. For more information, visit
www.workingfilms.org.