Jess Hardiman
Starbucks workers have staged a mass walkout in protest of pay and working conditions, timed to coincide with the brand's famous Red Cup Day.
According to the Associated Press, more than 1,000 unionised employees have gone on strike today (Thursday 13 November) across 65 stores in the US.
Starbucks Workers United said stores in 45 cities would be impacted by the strike action, aimed to disrupt an event that often marks one of the busiest days of the year for the company.
The coffee giant has undergone various changes in recent months, following the arrival of new CEO Brian Niccol, who has previously orchestrated high profile business turnarounds for the likes of Chipotle and Taco Bell.
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Some of his strategies have proven divisive, from banning non-customers from using bathrooms to strict dress codes for staff.
Michelle Eisen, a spokesperson for the union who worked as a barista for 15 years before leaving Starbucks in May, said: "Every single day at this company, as of recently, has been very, very difficult to be a barista.
"You should not be evolving to the point of running your workers to the ground."
Strike organisers said there is no date set for the strike to end, claiming more stores are prepared to join the cause if Starbucks does not come to a contract agreement with the union.
Starbucks, meanwhile, has been keen to stress that it hopes the walkout will have little impact on the business - this not being the first strike the chain has faced.
Jaci Anderson, a Starbucks spokesperson, told FOODbible in a statement: “We’re disappointed that Workers United, who represents less than 4% of our partners, has called for a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table. Less than 1% of our coffeehouses are experiencing any level of disruption and the vast majority of our 240,000 partners came to work ready to serve customers and celebrate Reuseable Red Cup Day.
"We’ve been very clear - when the union is ready to come back, we’re ready to talk. The facts show people like working at Starbucks. Partner engagement is up, turnover is nearly half the industry average, and we get more than 1 million job applications a year. Any agreement needs to reflect the reality that Starbucks offers the best job in retail, including more than $30 an hour on average in pay and benefits for hourly partners.”