Starbucks Workers United, a union, announced that employees from over 150 Starbucks locations across the U.S. are set to strike on Friday. The strike is a reaction to the coffee giant’s refusal to allow Pride decorations in some of its stores.
The union stated around 3,500 workers are participating. This number could grow as more stores consider strike authorizations. The current count could rise to nearly 200 stores joining the strike.
Starbucks Workers United alleges that despite Starbucks’ claims of not altering its Pride decoration policies, local leaders – who are supposedly given the autonomy to ‘find ways to celebrate’ – are the ones issuing many of the Pride decoration bans.
The union cited a leaked memo from an Oklahoma City Starbucks manager, who confirmed a regional decision to create ‘consistency from store to store’ led to a halt in Pride decorations.
STRIKE WITH PRIDE! Seattle Roastery leads nationwide Starbucks strike over Starbucks’ hypocritical treatment of LGBTQIA+ workers. Over 150+ stores and 3,500 workers will be on strike over the course of the next week.
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) June 23, 2023
The union informed Forbes that workers in Oklahoma were reportedly instructed against decorating for Pride due to safety concerns, following recent bomb threats directed at Target for retailing Pride merchandise.
The union asserts at least 100 Starbucks locations across 22 states have been prevented from decorating for Pride.
Union Claims Starbucks Fails to Engage in Meaningful Negotiations
In addition to the dispute over Pride decorations, Starbucks workers are also staging a strike over allegations that the company is delaying contract negotiations with the union.
Starbucks Workers United claims Starbucks is not engaging in good faith bargaining, which should involve both parties providing proposals and working towards a middle ground.
STRIKE WITH PRIDE! Seattle Roastery leads nationwide Starbucks strike over Starbucks’ hypocritical treatment of LGBTQIA+ workers. Over 150+ stores and 3,500 workers will be on strike over the course of the next week.
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) June 23, 2023
The union asserts that despite having non-economic proposals for over eight months and economic proposals for over a month, Starbucks has not tentatively agreed to a single clause of a single proposal or provided a single counter-proposal.
According to Starbucks Workers United, Starbucks’s actions constitute stalling rather than bargaining.
The nationwide strike signals a significant turning point in the ongoing battle between Starbucks Workers United and the corporation, bringing widespread attention to allegations of Pride decoration bans and accusations of unfair negotiation practices.
The ultimate outcome of this situation holds potential ramifications not just for Starbucks, but for the broader narrative around workers’ rights and corporate responsibility.