(USNewsMag.com) – Union employees at over 150 Starbucks stores are set to strike over Pride Month decorations.
More than 3,500 workers in Starbucks Workers United are set to strike during the week ending June 30. Two dozen more stores could vote to authorize strikes, bringing the total number of stores closer to 200.
The workers voted to strike, claiming the stores have been told they cannot decorate for Pride Month. The union pointed to instances in 22 states where workers were unable to decorate, using social media posts as the basis for the accusation. As a result of the alleged change in policy, Workers United also filed a labor complaint against Starbucks. None of the stores that voted to strike had an issue putting up Pride Month decorations.
The union also listed several labor-related complaints they claim impact LGBTQ+ employees disproportionately. The union also accuses Starbucks of being part of illegal attempts to stop workers from forming unions as well as illegal union-busting.
According to Starbucks, their policy on decorations has not been revised, and employees as well as store leaders can make their own decoration decisions as long as they fall within company guidelines. Starbucks also stated that it “unwaveringly supports the LGBTQ+ community” and pointed to its merchandise line featuring products designed by LGBTQ+ artists.
Starbucks went on to say Workers United is spreading false information. A June 14 letter from May Jensen, Starbucks VP of Partner Resources, to Lynne Fox, president of Workers United, demands the union “cease from knowingly misleading partners.”
Starbucks accused Workers United of using the strike to stall negotiations and use the dispute in contract talks.
In August 2021, the first Starbucks filed to unionize. Since then, more than 300 stores have voted to unionize. However, Starbucks and Workers United have not yet agreed on a contract. There are more than 9,000 Starbucks locations across the country.
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