Giovedì, uno sciopero dei baristi di Starbucks, motivato da contestazioni relative al nuovo codice di abbigliamento aziendale, ha assunto dimensioni maggiori.

Over 2,000 Starbucks baristas across 120 U.S. locations initiated strike action on Sunday, as reported by Starbucks Workers United, the union representing the coffee chain's U.S. employees, in protest against the implementation of a new dress code policy.

Effective Monday, Starbucks instituted new dress code restrictions, dictating permissible attire beneath the signature green aprons of its baristas; the updated policy mandates that employees at both corporate-owned and licensed stores throughout the United States and Canada wear solid black shirts and chinos, or trousers crafted from black or blue denim.

Sotto il precedente regolamento sull'abbigliamento, i baristi godevano di maggiore libertà nell'indossare una varietà di tonalità scure e camicie decorate; Starbucks ha motivato l'introduzione delle nuove direttive adducendo la volontà di accentuare la visibilità dei caratteristici grembiuli verdi e di promuovere un'esperienza cliente uniforme, mirando, in ultima analisi, a coltivare un'atmosfera più intima e accogliente all'interno dei propri locali.

Conversely, Starbucks Workers United, the union representing employees in 570 out of Starbucks' 10,000 company-owned stores across the United States, has asserted that the dress code should be a subject for collective bargaining.

"Starbucks ha smarrito la sua direzione strategica: anziché valorizzare i baristi, che sono l'anima dell'esperienza offerta, l'azienda si concentra su questioni marginali e controproducenti, come l'introduzione di un codice di abbigliamento inutilmente restrittivo," ha affermato Paige Summers, supervisore di turno presso uno Starbucks di Hanover, nel Maryland, aggiungendo: "I clienti non si curano affatto del colore delle nostre divise quando sono costretti ad attendere mezz'ora per un semplice latte."

Summers et al. have further censured the corporation for marketing Starbucks-branded apparel, which employees are now prohibited from wearing on the job, via an internal website; Starbucks responded by declaring it would furnish each employee with two complimentary black T-shirts concurrent with the announcement of the revised dress code.

Mercoledì, lo Starbucks Workers Union ha reso noto che 1.000 dipendenti hanno inscenato proteste in 75 punti vendita negli Stati Uniti, mentre Starbucks ha minimizzato l'impatto, affermando che l'agitazione ha finora inciso limitatamente sulla sua rete di 10.000 negozi a gestione diretta nel paese e che, in alcuni casi, gli scioperi hanno comportato chiusure inferiori a un'ora.

In a statement, Starbucks asserted that it would be more constructive if the union devoted as much effort to returning to the bargaining table as it was expending on protesting by wearing black shirts to work, adding that over 99% of their stores were open and serving customers, as they had been throughout the week.

Readers of the Associated Press who voiced their opinions expressed divergent views regarding the dress code, with some asserting that Starbucks baristas have little cause for complaint, given the prevalent practice of retailers mandating specific attire for their employees, while others contended that Starbucks should prioritize enhancing the quality and pricing of its beverages, alongside bolstering employee welfare, rather than fixating on staff members' attire.

Maddie Mucklow, responsabile di un punto vendita Starbucks a Seattle, ha espresso il suo sostegno alle nuove normative.

"Frankly, I believe the updated dress code has presented some adjustment challenges for my retail team," Mucklow conceded. "However, this revised policy provides a more consistent framework for professional presentation while still affording scope for individual expression."

Since 2021, Starbucks Workers United has been engaged in efforts to unionize Starbucks stores across the United States; however, despite agreeing to resume negotiations in February 2024, Starbucks and the union have yet to reach a contractual agreement.

This week, the union announced it has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Starbucks has failed to commence bargaining over its new dress code.