Starbucks Workers Unite: Strike Action in Response to Alleged Treatment of Queer and Trans Employees

Discover the reasons behind the strike action taken by thousands of Starbucks workers, led by Starbucks Workers United, in response to the company’s alleged treatment of queer and trans staff.

On June 13, Starbucks Workers United, a worker-led unionizing collective, accused Starbucks of retracting its support for Pride Month by allegedly ordering the removal of Pride displays from stores. Starbucks denied these claims, asserting its unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community. However, Starbucks Workers United proceeded with strike action.

On June 23, Starbucks Workers United announced that over 150 stores and 3,500 workers would participate in a strike over the next week, citing the company’s treatment of queer and trans workers. The ‘Strike with Pride’ action, as termed by the collective, is an “unfair labor practice strike” that challenges Starbucks’ alleged refusal to negotiate changes in Pride decoration policies and what the collective describes as an illegal union-busting campaign affecting queer workers.

A spokesperson for Starbucks responded by accusing Workers United of spreading false information about the company’s benefits, policies, and negotiation efforts. The spokesperson stated, “We apologize to our customers who may experience an inconvenience at these locations and encourage customers to find any of our more than 9,000 stores open nearby using our store locator available online or through the Starbucks mobile app.”

Starbucks Workers United later emphasized that the striking staff are also advocating for consistent working hours, health and safety, and protection from discrimination, among other workers’ rights. The Seattle Roastery, leading the nationwide strike, published a letter on June 22 protesting the company’s alleged unfair labor practices. The letter criticized Starbucks for unilaterally altering or terminating store Pride decoration policies without negotiating with the union and refusing to negotiate over a first labor contract.

The strike action has gained traction, with several other coffee shops joining the movement. A Starbucks café in Nebraska and four stores in Illinois have also taken strike action. On June 24, independent journalist Erin Reed tweeted a photo of herself and Montana’s trans representative Zooey Zephyr, expressing solidarity with Starbucks Workers United.

In 2022, Starbucks faced accusations of threatening to revoke gender-affirming healthcare coverage for trans staff amidst its ongoing dispute with Starbucks Workers United. Starbucks denied these allegations. This recent strike action reflects the growing concern among Starbucks employees regarding the company’s stance and policies affecting the queer and trans community.