MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Dozens of Starbucks baristas and staff gathered Saturday outside a Poplar Avenue Starbucks location in Memphis to join a strike against the Seattle-based coffee chain.
The Memphis workers are participating in Starbucks Workers United’s “Red Cup Rebellion” strike that launched Nov. 13, with 65 Starbucks locations participating in more than 40 cities.
Striking workers chanted “union busters got to go” during the demonstration at the Poplar Avenue location.
The group said they will remain on strike, leaving the Poplar location closed until an improved labor contract is reached.
Jaci Anderson, a spokesperson for Starbucks, gave the following statement on the strike:
As we’ve said, 99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open and welcoming customers —including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened. Regardless of the union’s plans, we do not anticipate any meaningful disruption. When the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk. The facts are clear, Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging $30 per hour for hourly partners. People choose to work here and stay here—our turnover is less than half the industry average, and we receive more than a million job applications every year.
Representative with Starbucks
Source: actionnews5.com
