On Sunday, employees at numerous Starbucks locations across the United States went on strike to show their outrage at claims made by the baristas’ union that managers at several American cafes had taken down rainbow flags and other decorations honouring LGBTQ+ Pride month.
On Sunday afternoon, a small group of Starbucks employees demonstrated in front of the Astor Place location in lower Manhattan close to the Pride parade route, yelling, “New York is a union town! struck out! “Turn it off!”
While some customers opted not to enter in support of the strike, union members distributed flyers and spoke with onlookers about the action.
Some baristas and other employees at the coffee chain claimed they were incensed by the dispute as Pride marches were taking place in Seattle, the home of Starbucks, as well as New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Chicago.
On Sunday, a spokesperson stated, “We steadfastly support the LGBTQIA2+ community. It would be false to state that any decorations are prohibited in Starbucks locations because this is still company policy.
The spokesperson stated, “We continue to be extremely concerned about false information being spread about our welcoming store environments, our corporate culture, and the advantages we provide to our partners.
Though the conflict is now receiving media attention, it actually started brewing a year ago, according to the Workers United union, when the company allegedly threatened union organisers, many of whom identified as queer or trans, with reduced hours if they didn’t quit their jobs. This would prevent them from being eligible for health insurance, which would have covered gender reassignment surgery and other affirming procedures.
Starbucks has refuted the claims that it altered the coverage, labelling them “false claims” in a letter dated June 14 to Lynne Fox, the president of Workers United International.
Since 2012, gender confirmation surgery has been covered by the company’s health insurance. In 2018, it also started covering procedures that other insurance plans would classify as “cosmetic,” such as breast augmentation, hair transplants, and feminization of the face.
Additionally, the coffee chain denied having a Pride ban.
