Starbucks workers at more than 150 stores to go on strike over Gay Pride decor dispute

By Debora Maria Sofia

(Reuters) – More than 3,000 workers at more than 150 Starbucks (NASDAQ:) stores across the United States will leave their jobs over the next week, the union representing baristas at the coffee chain said on Friday, following claims that the company had banned Pride Month. decorations in some of their cafes.

The strikes are also aimed at putting pressure on the company to reach fair labor contracts to improve wages and benefits, added the Starbucks Workers United union. The company has yet to reach any collective bargaining agreements at its newly unionized cafes.

Shares of Starbucks, which operates about 9,000 company-owned stores in the US, fell more than 2.5% in lower markets overall.

The walkout comes ahead of a huge weekend for US Pride Month celebrations, with Pride Parades taking place on Sunday in several major cities, including New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago. .

The union claims that managers at dozens of Starbucks locations had prevented employees from putting up Pride Month flags and decorations, or had removed them.

Starbucks on Friday called the claims “false information.” He said last week there was “no change to any policy on this matter” and still encouraged store managers to celebrate Pride Month as long as store safety guidelines were followed.

Several US retail brands have faced backlash from conservatives for displaying LGBTQ+ products, as well as criticism from gay rights groups for insufficient community support after companies caved. under pressure from conservatives.

US retailer Aim (NYSE:) was forced to pull some Gay Pride merchandise off shelves after clashes between some shoppers and store workers, while Anheuser-Busch InBev’s efforts to market to the transgender community have led to a sharp drop in sales of its Bud Light beer in recent weeks. .

Shareholders are taking note. In early June, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the state’s public pension funds, wrote to Starbucks, Target and more than 50 other companies where the funds are invested.

DiNapoli asked them to explain how they were managing corporate risks from the recent attacks on LGBTQ+ equality, including their approach to state legislation that could hurt recruiting, and how they were supporting LGBTQ+ employees.

Starbucks was the first company to respond to DiNapoli. On June 14, it reiterated its inclusive policies, showing a timeline going back to 1988, when it began offering full health benefits to same-sex couples, according to letters seen by Reuters.

Starbucks also faces hundreds of complaints with the National Labor Relations Board over its alleged illegal practices, such as firing union supporters and closing stores during labor drives. Workers at more than 300 US stores have voted to unionize since the end of 2021.

Starbucks Workers United said Friday that the company’s flagship Seattle Roastery was kicking off the nationwide walkout, dubbed “Strike Proudly.”