Starbucks workers went on strike because they didn't like the new rules about what they have to wear. The strike got bigger on Thursday.

About 2,000 Starbucks workers in 120 shops in the U.S. have started striking since Sunday. They are unhappy with the new rules about what they can wear, says Starbucks Workers United, a group that supports Starbucks workers in the U.S.

From Monday, Starbucks has new rules about what workers can wear under their green aprons. Now, workers in the U.S. and Canada must wear a plain black shirt and trousers or jeans in khaki, black, or blue.

Before, baristas could wear more dark colors and shirts with patterns. Starbucks says the new rules will help people see the green aprons better and make customers feel more at home in the stores.

Starbucks Workers United, the group for workers in 570 of Starbucks' 10,000 U.S. shops, said they should talk about the dress code together.

"Paige Summers, who works at Starbucks in Hanover, Maryland, said that Starbucks is making mistakes. She thinks they should listen to the people who make the coffee because they know what's important. But Starbucks is busy with things that don't matter, like new rules about what clothes people can wear. Paige also said customers don't care about the workers' clothes if they have to wait a long time for their coffee."

Some people said the company was wrong to sell Starbucks clothes online that workers can't wear anymore. Starbucks said they would give each worker two free black T-shirts when they told them about the new rules for clothes.

On Wednesday, the Starbucks Workers Union said that 1,000 workers had stopped working for a short time in 75 shops in the U.S. Starbucks said that the strike did not affect many of their 10,000 shops in the U.S. They also said that some shops closed for less than one hour because of the strikes.

Starbucks said it would be better if the union tried to talk to them instead of protesting by wearing black shirts. They added that almost all of their stores are open and serving customers.

People who read the Associated Press and gave their opinions had different ideas about the dress code. Some said that Starbucks workers shouldn't complain, because many shops tell their workers how to dress. Others said Starbucks should try to make their drinks better and cheaper, and keep their workers happy, instead of caring about what they wear.

Maddie Mucklow works at a Starbucks in Seattle and she likes the new rules.

Mucklow said, "To be honest, the new dress code was hard for the people I work with. But it helps us know how to dress well for each other, while still showing our own style."

Since 2021, workers at Starbucks in the U.S. have been joining a union called Starbucks Workers United. Starbucks and the union are still trying to agree on a contract, even though they said they would talk again in February 2024.

This week, the union said they complained to the National Labor Relations Board, saying Starbucks didn't discuss the new dress code with them.