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

Starbucks Workers United says that over 2,000 Starbucks workers in 120 shops in the U.S. have stopped working since Sunday. They are unhappy about the new rules for what they can wear at work. This group, Starbucks Workers United, speaks for the workers at Starbucks 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 black shirt and khaki, black, or blue jeans.

Before, baristas could wear more dark colours and shirts with patterns. Starbucks says the new rules will help people notice the green aprons. This will make customers feel more comfortable in the stores.

Starbucks Workers United, the group that speaks 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 Maryland, said that Starbucks is doing the wrong things. She thinks they should listen to the people who make the coffee, but instead, they care about things like making people wear certain clothes. She also said customers don't mind what colour clothes the staff wear if they have to wait a long time for their coffee."

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

On Wednesday, the Starbucks Workers Union said that 1,000 workers stopped working for a short time in 75 shops in the U.S. Starbucks said that the strikes didn't affect most 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 ideas had different thoughts about the dress code. Some said that Starbucks workers shouldn't complain too much, because many shops ask their workers to dress in a certain way. Others said that 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, and still show our own style.”

Since 2021, Starbucks workers in the U.S. have been joining a union called Starbucks Workers United. Starbucks and the union still haven't made an agreement, 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.