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The
walkout comes on the one day each year that Starbucks gives away
reusable, red, holiday-themed cups to customers with coffee
purchases. In the past, the promotion has driven up traffic,
resulting in long lines and stores' quickly running out of the
cups.
The workers say they are underpaid and don't have consistent
schedules. They are also protesting firings, store closures and
other actions that they say are illegal retaliation by Starbucks
against them for unionizing.
"We're organizing for a voice on the job and a true seat at the
table," said Michelle Eisen, an employee in Buffalo, New York.
Starbucks has nearly 9,000 corporate-owned U.S. locations.
Starbucks has said it respects employees' right to organize,
that store closings were due to safety concerns and that fired
employees violated company policies. The company and union have
accused each other of stalling bargaining.
The National Labor Relations Board in August ordered Starbucks
to rehire some fired baristas who were union activists.
In just over the past year, about 260 U.S. locations have voted
to join the union. Dozens of them began bargaining last month.
After they walk off the job on Thursday, the unionized employees
plan to hand out their own version of the red cups - but with
their Starbucks Workers United design.
(Reporting by Hilary Russ; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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