Starbucks workers across the United States are on strike as part of a nationwide 2023 protest. Let’s take a quick look at why Starbucks workers are calling for a strike in 2023.
From Colorado to Atlanta, workers in over 100 locations have joined the Starbucks strike. Not only the staff of the American multinational chain of coffeehouses, but Twitter reveals that workers of different organizations like the Union of Southern Service Workers are also lending their support to show solidarity.
Why is Starbucks on strike in the U.S.?
Starbucks employees are on strike as they demand “an end to Starbucks’ illegal union-busting campaign.” The representative account of Starbucks united tweeted, “while the company keeps a metaphorical ’empty chair’ for us in the boardroom, we’re demanding a real seat at the table!”
The call for unionization is to protect employee rights everywhere as the workers are also asking everyone to join the protest by their empty chair project.
Labor activist lends support
Labor activist Liz Shuler also tweeted about the workers’ protest: “Today is @Starbucks’ Annual Shareholders Meeting. It WOULD be a great day for them if they didn’t violate labor law & prevent workers from organizing. Accountability is overdue & baristas deserve way better. @Starbucks, STOP UNION BUSTING & listen to @SBWorkersUnited!”
Starbucks spokesperson commented on the protest
Starbucks spokesperson talked to a news outlet about their position on the workers’ strike saying, “Rather than publicizing rallies and protests, we encourage Workers United to live up to their obligations by responding to our proposed sessions and meeting us in person to move the good faith bargaining process forward.”
The call for unionization in Starbucks started in December 2021, when baristas in Buffalo, New York created their first-ever unionized Starbucks store in the country. Later, over 7,500 workers in over 280 other locations reportedly supported the demand to unionize under the umbrella of Starbucks Workers United.
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