Starbucks Union Plans Walkouts on Red Cup Day

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The Facts

  • Thousands of Starbucks employees at nearly 200 unionized stores across the US are set to stage a walkout on the company's annual Red Cup Day, to protest issues concerning pay, staffing, and work schedules.

  • According to the Starbucks Workers Union, striking employees will demand Starbucks "stop illegally refusing to bargain with baristas" and will also demand that mobile ordering be turned off on promotion days.

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Respectable working conditions and rights to bargain are for everyone. By laying off employees who want to unionize as well as hiking wages and adding new benefits only for non-union employees, Starbucks is indulging in unfair labor practices and violating federal law.

Time

Pro-establishment narrative

Despite multiple requests, Starbucks Workers United has yet to talk to management. Such posturing may not be helpful when the company has hiked the hourly wage and benefits for most US workers. This includes employees in more than 75 union-represented stores in the US.

Yahoo Finance

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO