Starbucks baristas stand on stage, March 20, 2019, during an annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)
Share this @internewscast.com

Since Sunday, over 1,000 Starbucks baristas across 75 U.S. locations have initiated a strike in response to a newly implemented dress code, as reported by the union that represents the workers of the coffee chain on Wednesday.

The updated dress code, effective from Monday, restricts what baristas can wear underneath their signature green aprons. It mandates that employees at both company-run and licensed branches in the U.S. and Canada dress in a plain black shirt paired with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms.

Starbucks baristas stand on stage, March 20, 2019, during an annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)
Starbucks baristas stand on stage, March 20, 2019, during an annual shareholders meeting in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)

Prior to this change, baristas enjoyed a wider selection of dark colors and patterned clothing. Starbucks has stated that the revised guidelines aim to highlight their green aprons and provide a familiar and cozy atmosphere for customers, enhancing the warmth and welcome of their store environments.

But Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents workers at 570 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores, said the dress code should be subject to collective bargaining.

“Starbucks has lost its way. Instead of listening to baristas who make the Starbucks experience what it is, they are focused on all the wrong things, like implementing a restrictive new dress code,” said Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Hanover, Maryland. “Customers don’t care what color our clothes are when they’re waiting 30 minutes for a latte.”

Summers and others also criticized the company for selling styles of Starbucks-branded clothing that employees no longer are allowed to wear to work on an internal website. Starbucks said it would give two free black T-shirts to each employee when it announced the new dress code.

Starbucks said Wednesday that the strike was having a limited impact on its 10,000 company-operated U.S. stores. By the union’s own count, less than 1% of Starbucks workers are participating in the strikes, and in some cases the strikes closed stores for less than an hour, the company said.

“It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table that they’re putting into protesting wearing black shirts to work,” Starbucks said in a statement. “More than 99% of our stores are open today serving customers — and have been all week.”

Starbucks Workers United has been unionizing U.S. stores since 2021. Starbucks and the union have yet to reach a contract agreement, despite agreeing to return to the bargaining table in February 2024.

The union said this week that it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Starbucks’ failure to bargain over the new dress code.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Boulder Attack Suspect Charged with Murder Following Victim’s Death: District Attorney

DENVER (KDVR) — One of the victims in the June 1 attack…

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka uninterested in extending women’s tennis matches to five sets.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka would prefer women’s tennis not to switch to best-of-five-set…

Exploring the Religious Background of Zohran Mamdani

Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans’ daily lives. “One…

Tampa ranks as one of the priciest cities for renters requiring childcare, says Redfin.

(Redfin) – Rents are high, and childcare is getting even more expensive.…

BREAKING | Two Injured in Shooting on I-20 in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga ()- Two people were injured when their vehicle was shot…

Who Will Pritzker Choose as His Next Running Mate? Governor Prioritizes Capability to Handle Governor Duties

CHICAGO (WGN) — Now that Gov. JB Pritzker has made his re-election campaign…

Details Uncovered About the Suspected Sniper Involved in Idaho’s Firefighter Ambush

() The gunman accused of fatally shooting two firefighters and wounding a…

Texas Resident Confesses to Murder of Missing American Airlines Flight Attendant: Court Documents Reveal

TARRANT COUNTY, Texas (KFDX/KJTL) A Fort Worth man has confessed to killing…

Guide to Fourth of July Fireworks Displays and Celebrations in the Tri-Cities

TRI-CITIES, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) — The Fourth of July is right around the…

Trump Scheduled to Visit Notorious ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center This Week

(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump is anticipated to pay a visit to…

Senate Republicans Advocate for Significant Legislation Before July 4 Deadline

WASHINGTON () Senate Republicans are preparing to vote Monday on the centerpiece…

Senate Begins Marathon Voting Session on GOP Bill; Two Firefighters Tragically Killed in Ambush: Morning Update

Today, the Senate will initiate its ‘vote-a-rama’ on Donald Trump’s policy bill.…