Starbucks workers went on strike on Thursday because they don't like the new rules about what they can wear.

Starbucks workers in the U.S. are on strike because they don't like the new rules about what they have to wear at work. This started on Sunday and more than 2,000 workers in 120 shops are taking part, says the Starbucks Workers United union.

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

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

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

Paige Summers, who works at Starbucks in Hanover, Maryland, thinks Starbucks is making mistakes. She said that instead of listening to the baristas, who are important for the Starbucks experience, the company is focused on the wrong things. For example, they have a new dress code that is too strict. She also said that customers don't care about the color of the barista's 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 at work anymore. Starbucks said they would give each worker two free black T-shirts when they told everyone about the new rules for clothes.

On Wednesday, the Starbucks Workers Union said that 1,000 workers had stopped working at 75 shops in the U.S. Starbucks said that the strike didn't affect many of its 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 also said 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 too much because many shops tell their staff what to wear. Others said that Starbucks should try to make their drinks better and cheaper, and also keep their workers happy, instead of being worried about clothes.

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

Mucklow said, “I think the new dress code was hard for the people I work with. But it helps us know how to dress well and still show 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 have not made a deal yet, 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.