Some Starbucks staff are seeing crimson — and on Thursday, prospects may be, too.
That’s as a result of Nov. 16 is the espresso chain’s common Red Cup Day, when Starbucks
SBUX,
releases its free, reusable crimson vacation cups every year. This yr, prospects who order a vacation beverage at a taking part retailer on Red Cup Day will rating one of many collectible cups — whether or not they order in-store, through the Starbucks app, or by means of supply on Doordash or Uber Eats.
But Starbucks Workers United plans to disrupt the annual holiday-cup giveaway for the second yr in a row by picketing shops to boost consciousness for its unionization effort.
“Red Cup Day (November 16th) is Starbucks’s biggest sales event of the season — and also one of the most infamously hard, understaffed days for the baristas that work them,” the SBWU wrote on its web site.
Similar to final yr, the SBWU is asking on all Starbucks baristas and shift supervisors to affix what it’s dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion” by strolling out alongside hundreds of Starbucks Workers United baristas “to protest Starbucks’ unfair labor practices.”
This yr, it’s additionally calling on prospects to affix them on the picket line. The Red Cup Rebellion has additionally drawn the assist of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has inspired its Joint Councils and native unions nationwide “to stand in solidarity with Starbucks Workers United” throughout their Red Cup Day walkout.
The SBWU has listed its proposals on its web site, together with stopping alleged union-busting actions and stopping union-organization efforts; addressing labor points equivalent to understaffing and office security; implementing a base wage of no less than $20 an hour with annual raises of 5% and cost-of-living changes.
Starbucks responded with a company assertion over e mail, writing partly that, “We remain committed to working with all partners, side-by-side, to elevate them everyday, and we hope that Workers United’s priorities will shift to include the shared success of our partners and working to negotiate union contracts for those they represent.”
The assertion additionally mentioned that, “Despite escalating rhetoric and recurring rallies demanding contracts, Workers United hasn’t agreed to meet to progress contract bargaining in more than five months. As we join together to uplift the holiday season and reflect on the past year, we again call on Workers United to fulfill their obligations and engage in the work of negotiating first contracts on behalf of the partners they represent.”
The Red Cup Rebellion comes on the heels of what has been referred to as “Hot Labor Summer,” as staff in varied industries throughout the nation — from Hollywood writers and actors to resort staff to academics, healthcare staff and fast-food staff — went on strike to make related calls for. As MarketWatch’s Levi Sumagaysay wrote earlier this yr: “They’re frustrated because their wages have stayed relatively stagnant, while their employers have raked in increased income over the past few years — or longer.” Plus, strikes beget strikes, and staff are feeling emboldened as they see different staff unionizing or hanging.
Read extra: Actors, writers, resort housekeepers and grad-student staff are all hanging for a similar cause
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
