News Summary
Starbucks workers in Los Angeles protested over the weekend to push for stalled contract negotiations. The rallies, held at Miracle Mile and Santa Clarita locations, are part of a larger movement by Starbucks Workers United. The protests were sparked by Starbucks’ announcement to close stores and lay off employees. Workers are also challenging a new dress code policy. With negotiations at a standstill since late 2022, the union continues to seek better working conditions and fair representation in corporate decisions.
Los Angeles
Starbucks workers in Los Angeles held protests over the weekend at two locations, aiming to pressure the company to restart stalled contract negotiations. The protests took place at the Miracle Mile store on Wilshire Boulevard and another in Santa Clarita. These rallies are part of a broader movement organized by Starbucks Workers United, the workers’ union, which plans similar demonstrations across 35 cities, including major areas such as Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio.
The protests were ignited by Starbucks’ recent announcement of plans to close hundreds of stores and lay off approximately 1,000 employees. This decision has sparked further unrest among employees, who seek to have their voices recognized and valued in corporate decisions. A shift supervisor at the Miracle Mile location has indicated that workers want their concerns heard, especially as they face uncertain job security.
Compounding the situation, employees have taken legal action against Starbucks regarding a new dress code that mandates specific clothing requirements. The policy stipulates that workers must wear solid black shirts along with designated types of bottoms, and employees have expressed frustration over the company not reimbursing them for these new clothing expenses. Legal challenges concerning the dress code have been filed in Illinois and Colorado, and complaints have also been submitted to California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Contract negotiations between Starbucks and its union have been at a standstill since December 2022. Although federal mediators were called in to assist with the negotiations in February 2023, no significant advancements toward reaching an agreement have occurred. In April 2023, the union rejected Starbucks’ proposal, which included a minimum annual raise of only 2%. Despite repeated requests from the union for the company to return to negotiations, Starbucks has not responded in recent months.
The union has criticized the implementation of new policies that have been established without adequate negotiation, asserting that these changes have led to increased workloads for employees. There are concerns that the ongoing situation may lead to a potential strike action if workers feel their voices continue to be disregarded.
Starbucks, for its part, has suggested that the union itself is to blame for the stalled negotiations, citing that the union left discussions last winter. The company defends its stance by stating that it offers competitive pay and benefits, including an impressive 18 weeks of parental leave valued at approximately $30 an hour.
As part of a significant restructuring of its business model, Starbucks plans to proceed with store closures and workforce layoffs. This announcement and the accompanying decision-making process have drawn criticism from the union, particularly targeting CEO Brian Niccol for decisions made without consulting baristas or considering their perspectives.
Starbucks Workers United currently represents around 12,000 workers spread across approximately 650 stores, which constitutes roughly 5% of Starbucks’ total U.S. workforce. As these protests and legal actions unfold, the interplay between employee demands for better working conditions and corporate decisions will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: Starbucks Union Protests
- Wikipedia: Starbucks
- In These Times: Starbucks Union Bargaining
- Google Search: Starbucks Union Protests
- ABC7: Starbucks Workers Strike Announcement
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Union (Labor)
- NBC News: Starbucks Union Strike Announcement
- Google News: Starbucks Union Strikes
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