Why new Starbucks dress code prompted hundreds of baristas to strike
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Starbucks Workers United/Bluesky
Hundreds of Starbucks workers have walked off the job at over 100 U.S. stores this week in a strike that's protesting a new dress code that went into effect this week.
The big picture: Axios' Kelly Tyko notes the Seattle-based coffee giant is trying to revitalize the brand amid sluggish sales by returning to its roots with a new design Starbucks says provides "simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine." But the change sparked outrage with the baristas union.
- Starbucks and the union, Starbucks Workers United, still haven't reached an agreement on a contract despite beginning negotiations in February last year — something the union pointed to in a Bluesky post on the strike that began Sunday.
- "We're not just angry over a shirt color," said the Wednesday post. "Starbucks is a MASSIVE company without focus. They refuse to staff our stores properly, give guaranteed hours to workers, pay us a living wage, or provide stipends to pay for this arbitrary dress code. We need fair union contracts NOW."
Driving the news: Starbucks said in its announcement that its "more defined color palette includes any solid black short and long-sleeved crewneck, collared, or button-up shirts and any shade of khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms" and it's "making a new line of company branded t-shirts available to partners, who will receive two at no cost."
- The company said it wants to "create a sense of familiarity for our customer."
What they're saying: A striking barista said in a video posted Thursday to the union's Bluesky account that Starbucks "made a big decision about our jobs without bargaining with us, and this time it's a new restrictive dress code, one that we're paying for out of pocket."
- Wearing black "doesn't make the customer experience any better" and "policing" what workers wear doesn't address being short-staffed or dealing with long lines while there are pay concerns, said the worker, who was not identified in the post.
- "They think they can tell us how to dress, expecting us to spend money on new shoes or pants just to be in compliance with the new dress code while we're already stretched thin and struggling to pay our bills," she said.
The other side: As the strike expanded with the union reporting over 2,000 workers walked out Thursday, Starbucks said in a statement "more than 99% of our stores are open today serving customers — and have been all week," per AP.
- "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."
Flashback: Starbucks strike expands on Christmas Eve
