Starbucks workers go on major strike in US closing stores in anger at company banning them from raising flags for Pride
- A group of striking Starbucks workers closed 150 stores nationwide
- Group protests stall in contract talks and issues with company allegedly removing Pride Month decorations from stores
More than 3,500 Starbucks employees nationwide have closed 150 stores over stalled contract negotiations and the alleged removal of Pride Month decorations.
In Los Angeles, a group of union members protested outside their Cypress Park store wearing rainbow clothing and holding signs.
“Starbucks has taken down the Pride flags in most stores and I feel a little bit lied to as a place that wants you to express yourself and encourage that inclusivity,” said one employee.
The employee, who identified herself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said she sees the removal of the decor as a betrayal of the company’s values.
“It just goes to show that Starbucks doesn’t really have my back, or the back of my community.”
More than 3,500 Starbucks employees nationwide have closed 150 stores over stalled contract negotiations and the alleged removal of Pride Month decorations
“Starbucks has taken down the Pride flags in most stores and I feel a little bit lied to as a place that wants you to express yourself and encourage that inclusivity,” said one employee
Last week, Starbucks Workers United claimed the company was not allowing employees to hang pride decorations in some stores.
Starbucks denies employee claims that they are scaling back their support for the LGBT+ community.
“We want to be crystal clear: Starbucks has been and continues to be at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community,” said Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan and Executive VP and President for North America Sara Trilling said.
“We will not waver in that commitment!” added the pair.
The company officials also said they have not revised their guidelines for decorations in stores and are encouraging Pride Month celebrations.
“Despite today’s public comment, there is no change in our policies regarding our inclusive retail environments, our corporate culture and the benefits we provide to our partners,” said Narasimhan and Trilling.
“We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for US Pride month in June, as we have always done,” they added.
Workers United has claimed that stores in at least 22 states have been discouraged from decorating for the celebrations aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.
The union has since filed an unfair labor practice suit against the company.
Pictured: A group of union members protested outside their Cypress Park store wearing rainbow clothing and holding signs
Workers protest outside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle on June 23
Protesters hold Pride Month signs as they beat outside a Starbucks in Chicago on June 24
“The company is refusing to negotiate our contract in good faith,” said one employee
The Pride Month argument comes as another employee related KTLA that the other major reason for the strike is the lack of contract negotiations for unionized workers.
“We have been a union member at our store for a year and a contract is yet to be negotiated,” said one protester.
“The company refuses to negotiate our contract in good faith,” she said.
The strikes began Friday in Seattle – the birthplace of the caffeine giant.
In a statement, Starbucks denied wrongdoing and the union blamed workers for the strike.
“Workers United continues to disseminate false information about our benefits, policies and bargaining efforts – a tactic used to seemingly divide and distract our partners from their failure to respond to bargaining sessions for more than 200 stores,” the statement read. sent to DailyMail.com. .
However, the Workers United union claims that the company is also unwilling and that they are not negotiating in good faith.
“Negotiating in good faith seems like both parties are proposing and trying to meet in the middle – Starbucks is not willing to do that,” Workers United said.