A Starbucks store in Seattle, the company’s hometown, votes to unionize.

Starbucks employees in Seattle voted to unionize, the latest group to do so in a union push that appears to be gaining steam.

The result was announced by the National Labor Relations Board after a count on Tuesday. The result represents a big gain for Workers United since Seattle is the hometown of Starbucks.

One ballot was uncounted after the company challenged the tally.

Kevin Johnson is leaving Starbucks, the company said last week. The company has performed well financially, but management has had to contend with an upswell of criticism from employees, and its stock price is down 30 percent from its peak. Howard Schultz, who oversaw Starbucks' growth into a global coffee giant, will return as chief executive on an interim basis on April 4.

The company has pursued a union-free model for a long time. More than 100 Starbucks stores in more than 25 states have filed for union elections after two stores in the Buffalo area voted to unionize.