Yesterday, unionized Starbucks employees in Southern California conducted a "Red Cup Rebellion," aiming to send a message during the company's Red Cup Day. This day, in which Starbucks gives away tens of thousands of holiday-themed red cups for free, is the second successive year chosen by the Starbucks Workers United union for their protest as reported by Fox LA.
Representing around 360 Starbucks stores, the Starbucks Workers United Union affirmed their stance was not a picket, but a show of solidarity. "We’re sick of them slashing benefits, watch hours for folks, that are identifying with the union…and closing stores," said Anthony Depice, a volunteer organizer associated with Starbucks United Workers. The union's demonstrations relate to numerous allegations of unfair labor practices over the past two years, particularly with regards to scheduling and staffing disputes.
According to a report from CBS News, thousands of Starbucks employees joined the "Red Cup Rebellion" walkout on the same day, resulting in the largest work stoppage in the company's history. The protest sought to draw attention to ongoing complaints surrounding staffing, scheduling, and other workplace issues. Despite a small proportion of the coffee chain's over 9,000 U.S. locations participating in the strike, Starbucks asserted that more than half of the impacted stores remained open.
The protests encompassed unionized Starbucks locations across multiple states, inclusive of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Besides the Red Cup Rebellion, non-union Starbucks workers in New York lodged new accusations against the company, alleging contraventions of worker protection laws. CBS News reports that the new complaints, involving more than 50 stores, purport Starbucks to have breached New York City's Fair Workweek Law, a regulation mandating the provision of employee schedules two weeks in advance or corresponding shift bonuses.
A Starbucks representative responded to the accusations through an email to CBS, stating: "We make every effort and have invested significant resources ensuring partner scheduling practices are suitably conforming to New York City's Fair Workweek and Just Cause Laws."
