Starbucks Employees Walk Off the Job on "Red Cup Day"

On Thursday, thousands of unionized Starbucks employees participated in the annual promotion known as "Red Cup Day" by walking off the job. The protest, organized by Starbucks Workers United, aims to draw attention to ongoing complaints about staffing, scheduling, and other workplace issues.

The labor group, which has organized approximately 360 Starbucks stores, claims that the "Red Cup Rebellion" is the largest work stoppage in the company's history. However, Starbucks downplayed the impact of the labor action.

In response to the protest, a Starbucks spokesperson stated, "We have nearly 10,000 stores open right now delighting our customers with the joy of Red Cup Day. There are also a few dozen stores with some partners on strike, and more than half of those stores are open this morning serving customers."

Starbucks Workers Continue Protest for Unionization

The ongoing protest indicates that the effort by Starbucks employees to unionize has not lost momentum, despite recent setbacks. The first company stores to successfully organize were three cafes in upstate New York in 2021. However, since then, Starbucks Workers United has accused the company of using stall tactics to avoid reaching a labor contract agreement. On the other hand, executives from the restaurant chain blame the union for the impasse.

In the state of New York, nonunion Starbucks workers are now filing new charges against the company for alleged violations of worker protection laws. The union claims that more than 50 stores are involved in these new complaints, which specifically accuse Starbucks of violating the city's Fair Workweek Law. This law, enacted in 2017, requires employers to provide fast-food workers with their schedules at least two weeks in advance or pay a bonus for any last-minute changes.

Starbucks has denied the allegations, stating that it is not breaking the law. A spokesperson for the company said, "We make every effort and have invested significant resources to ensure partner scheduling practices are in alignment with New York City's Fair Workweek and Just Cause Laws."

Yesterday's protests included workers from six unionized locations in the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. As a result, customers were greeted with temporarily closed signs at stores, including the one in Bloomfield.

One of the main issues raised by workers is Starbucks' refusal to negotiate on matters related to promotion days. This has led to an increase in customer dissatisfaction as they have to wait longer for their orders due to the company's unwillingness to bring in additional staff. As part of the walkout, the union has demanded that Starbucks turn off mobile ordering on future promotion days.

"Our store is one of the busiest on the entire East Coast and during peak hours, we serve an average of 500 drinks per hour with only six people on the floor. It's simply not feasible," said Casper Borowitz, an employee at a Starbucks located on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

"We have been requesting for mobile orders to be temporarily disabled on high volume and promotional days because we struggle to keep up with the demand," Borowitz added.

Sam Petty, a barista in Ellicott City, Maryland, shared similar concerns, stating: "Imagine three people taking orders for 30 to 40 customers every half hour."