You're not the only Starbucks customer who hasn't been able to get a morning coffee recently. Starbucks cafés nationwide are affected by a weeklong strike by workers at over 150 shops.
Some Starbucks managers banned Pride Month displays this month. Starbucks Workers United, a union representing hundreds of shops, said workers were either told to take down or not put up the bright displays, a change from previous years.
Late last week, the firm denied changing its corporate rules "as it relates to our inclusive store surroundings, our company culture, and the benefits we offer our partners."
"We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for U.S. Pride month in June, as we always have," the statement signed by Starbucks CEO and the executive vice president and ceo of Starbucks North America said.
Still, Starbucks Workers United, which has been leading a statewide movement to unionize Starbucks employees in recent years, argues the alleged ban on Pride Month decor is the company's latest act of "retaliation" against workers.
In March, a National Labor Relations Board court found that Starbucks improperly monitored, reprimanded, and fired Buffalo, N.Y., employees who were union organizing and trying to reduce union support.
Starbucks told the Times that the finding was "inappropriate" and that it was "considering all options to obtain further legal review."
Starbucks Workers United announced that the strikes began on June 23 and will continue through June 30.
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The strikers are "demanding that Starbucks negotiate a fair contract with union stores and halt their illegal union-busting campaign, which has had a major effect on Starbucks' LGBTQIA+ workforce."
"Workers United continues to spread false information about our perks, policies and negotiation efforts—a tactic used to apparently divide our partners and deflect from their failure to respond to negotiation sessions for more than 200 stores," the firm stated.
We apologize to customers who may face an inconvenience at these locations and recommend them to find any of our more than 9,000 outlets open nearby using our store locator online or through the Starbucks mobile app.
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