Starbucks offers ‘clearer’ guidelines for store layout after Pride Clash
Starbucks’ response came after workers at more than 150 stores went on strike over the course of a week starting Friday to protest the company’s decorating policies, treatment of LGBTQ workers and unfair labor practices in general.
Starbucks Workers United said Monday the strike would continue unless the company agreed to come to the negotiating table. “While we are pleased that Starbucks is finally reconsidering its stance on pride decorations, Starbucks continues to ignore that they are required by law to negotiate with union workers – that is the power of a union,” the union said in a statement.
A Starbucks spokesperson said only about 12 stores had to close each day since the strike began.
The company also filed two charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the union of starting a “slander campaign” against the company by misrepresenting the company’s positions on LGBTQ issues, including benefits policies on gender affirming care.
“The union violations have fueled and fueled workplace tensions and divisions and have led to strikes and other business disruptions at Starbucks stores,” the indictment said.
The union said it was confident those charges would be dismissed, calling them a “PR stunt.”
Why it matters:
How companies approach Pride marketing is under increasing scrutiny.
For example, Bud Light faced backlash and declining sales after a transgender influencer posted a promotional video for the American beer staple. Target, one of the country’s largest retailers, said it had to move its Pride collection to avoid further threats to its employees.
Background: The battle for negotiations has grown heated.
The union has staged a series of strikes over the past year over what it says is aggressive anti-union tactics, such as retaliatory actions and delayed negotiations. In response to tensions with the union, Starbucks has introduced a stricter dress code and décor policy to prevent employees from filling stores with union gear.
The union, which first petitioned three stores in August 2021, now represents about 8,000 of the company’s employees in more than 300 stores.
Starbucks has faced dozens of complaints from the National Labor Relations Board, including one in April accusing the company of failing to negotiate in good faith with employees at more than 100 stores. In March, the coffee giant faced a damning ruling from an administrative judge that concluded it was illegally retaliating against union workers.