Starbucks

Starbucks' union says workers are walking off the job at some 300 — out of over 10,000 — stores across the U.S. as contract negotiations falter. The company urges it to return to the bargaining table.

Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, the union representing unionized baristas around the country, announced an agreement on Tuesday that the two would begin discussions on a foundational framework to achieve contracts for all unionized workers.

Amazon workers formed their first union. And at Starbucks, 380 stores are unionized, but not one has a contract. But the big, established unions have won big raises for workers.

Quinn Craig, the lead Starbucks union organizer in the region, was separated from the company on the one-year anniversary of their store’s union certification.

Starbucks workers in cities including Chicago, Philadelphia and San Antonio plan to walk out or picket over coming days following worker accusations that the company is scaling back its LGBTQ support.

Robert Hernandez was fired on April 12 for time and attendance issues, but he said managers only began handing out discipline after the unionization effort started at his store.

Workers at the Starbucks on 410 and Vance Jackson accused their manager of violating labor law and said staffing reductions had become unsustainable and even dangerous.

Starbucks Workers United said the strike is intended to demand that Starbucks end its union-busting efforts and come to the bargaining table.

Workers at three separate Starbucks stores say managers have unlawfully tightened discipline, added new policies without bargaining, and escalated retaliatory action against workers — including calling the cops on workers for dress code violations.

Workers alleged management committed health code violations. A Starbucks representative said all allegations against the store were untrue, that all staff who worked during strikes around the country followed store policies and health codes.