Starbucks’ response came after employees at more than 150 stores went on strike for a week starting Friday to protest the company’s decor policies, treatment of LGBTQ workers and unfair labor practices in general. .
Starbucks Workers United said Monday that the strike will continue unless the company agrees to come to the negotiating table. “I’m happy that Starbucks has finally reconsidered its position on pride decoration, but Starbucks continues to ignore its legal obligation to negotiate with union members.That’s the power of the union,” said the union. said in a statement.
A Starbucks spokeswoman said only about a dozen stores had to close each day since the strike began.
The company has also filed two complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that it misrepresented its position on LGBTQ issues, including its benefits policy on gender-affirming care, and unions launched a “distancing campaign” against the company. rice field.
“Union misconduct caused tension and division in the workplace, leading to strikes and other disruptions to operations at Starbucks stores,” the charges state.
The union said it was confident these accusations would be dismissed as “public relations stunts.”
Why it matters:
There is an increasing scrutiny of how companies approach pride marketing.
For example, Bud Light faced backlash and sales drops after a transgender influencer posted a promotional video for a staple American beer. Target, one of the country’s largest retailers, said it needed to relocate its Pride Collection to prevent further threats to its employees.
Background: The battle over negotiations is intensifying.
The union has carried out a series of strikes over the past year, claiming aggressive anti-union tactics, including retaliatory dismissals and delaying negotiations. In response to tensions with unions, Starbucks has adopted a stricter dress code and decor policy to prevent employees from cramming union paraphernalia into its stores.
The union first filed petitions with three stores in August 2021 and now represents about 8,000 employees in more than 300 stores.
Starbucks has faced dozens of complaints to the National Labor Relations Commission, including an April accusation that the company failed to negotiate in good faith with employees at more than 100 stores. Also included. In March, the coffee giant faced a scathing ruling from an administrative law judge that concluded it had unlawfully retaliated against unionized workers.
