“College Students Join Forces with Starbucks Workers in Red Cup Rebellion – Brewing Controversy, Union-Busting Exposed!”
Students from various campuses across the US are planning to join Starbucks employees in a walkout later this week, coinciding with the anticipated Red Cup Day. This annual event, during which Starbucks distributes free holiday reusable cups with a beverage purchase, is among the busiest promotions of the year.
While Starbucks has not officially announced this year’s Red Cup Day, it was held on Thursday, November 17, last year. College students advocating for the removal of Starbucks from their campuses intend to stand in solidarity with workers on November 16, a day dubbed “Red Cup Rebellion” by the union.
Starbucks
These students express their support for the Starbucks union and condemn what they perceive as union-busting tactics employed by the coffee chain. This walkout occurs amid heightened tensions between Starbucks and the union.
Ella Clark, a founding member of Georgetown Students Against Starbucks, explained that the primary goal is to show support for Starbucks workers facing challenges in organizing. Clark, who initiated a union movement at her local San Francisco Starbucks in high school, drew inspiration from Cornell University students who successfully convinced their college to terminate its contract with Starbucks over the summer. This action was prompted by the closure of three unionized stores in Ithaca, the college’s hometown.
Other student-led groups seeking to remove Star from their campuses come from institutions such as the University of Washington, University of Minnesota, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Louisville, University of Chicago, UCLA, Stanford University, Boston University, American University, and the University of Arizona.
Star, in response, expressed readiness for in-person negotiations with union representatives but noted that no agreement had been reached for contract bargaining in over four months. The company emphasized its commitment to working collaboratively but suggested that the union’s priorities do not align with the shared success of its partners.
Star Workers United, representing over 300 unionized stores and 9,000 workers, anticipates a larger participation in this year’s Red Cup Rebellion, potentially involving hundreds of stores shutting down during the promotional event.
Workers cite issues of understaffing, particularly on promotional days, as a reason for the walkout. They demand that Star disable mobile orders during such events. Negotiations have stalled amid accusations of labor law violations, with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) having ruled against , stating the chain engaged in “flagrant” and corporate-wide attacks on employees’ right to choose union representation. Starbucks is currently appealing this ruling.
The proposed walkout follows Starbucks’ announcement of new perks and a pay increase for employees on November 6. Despite raising wages by at least 3% for over 200,000 US employees, some unionized stores may not be eligible for all benefits due to NLRB rules. Starbucks Workers United member Alex Yeager acknowledges the new benefits as a victory but criticizes the company for what he perceives as an illegal union-busting campaign. Yeager states that withholding benefits from unionized stores is against the law, and the union plans to file an unfair labor practice charge in response.
