This Christmas, union workers don't want you to buy Starbucks gift cards

On December 9, U.S. Starbucks workers celebrate one year since the first store was unionized. Workers United, Starbuck's parent union, is calling a strike in ten cities to commemorate this date. They also ask supporting customers to join or donate instead of purchasing gift cards this holiday season.

“It’s a celebration of the fact that it’s been a year, and we’ve managed to unionize more than 260 stores,” barista trainer CJ Toothman told In These Times. Unions also explained that the rallies focus on teachers since they are the most common recipients of Starbucks gif cards during the holidays. Some teacher unions have been invited to participate.

“We want to show that the teachers are on our side, and they’re not going to stand for bullying from corporate just like they wouldn’t stand for bullying as a teacher in their classrooms,” Sarah Wayment, a San Antonio-based shift supervisor, told In These Times.

What Workers United calls "corporate bullying" refers to Starbucks' campaign to discourage union efforts. In August, a federal judge ordered the company to reinstate seven fired baristas following a union organizing drive at a store in Memphis. This month another judge ordered the coffee giant to negotiate with a Seattle store.

Union representatives have told Vice News and NPR that the company retaliated against workers, but the strikes continue. According to In These Times, the Friday rallies will occur in Arlington, Virginia; Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, N.Y.; Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, and Seattle.

The actions on Friday are part of the union's coordinated strategy to pressure the company to negotiate in good faith. After a year of unionizing efforts, non of the stores have reached a contract or advanced in conversations with the coffee giant. Workers claim they are trying to put customers on their side with strikes and campaigns.

The most significant action to appeal to customers was on November 17. Workers United launched a nationwide strike in more than 100 stores. The employees called this the "Red Cup Rebellion" because they chose to do it on one of the busiest days of the year for Starbucks, called Red Cup Day.

On 'Red Cup Day,' Starbucks hands out reusable red cups to every customer that orders a seasonal drink. The cups are limited-edition and holiday-themed. The company has designed them for 25 years. Customers love this date and make long lines, which puts workers under tremendous pressure.

The red cups have become collector's items, and clients line up at dawn to get them. According to NPR, it is one of the coffee giants' "most profitable days on the calendar." This is why, during the protest, the workers formed picket lines in each store and handed reusable red cups with the union logo, so no client would have to go home disappointed.

Baristas have complained about being overworked during Red Cup Day by preparing hundreds of complex seasonal drinks on top of their regular orders, with several complaints in social and traditional media.

Employees have also complained about clients mistreating baristas as they became increasingly frustrated with the waiting periods. Carissa Frihart told Vice News that she considered Red Cup Day abusive. But beyond the red cup and holiday madness, Workers United claims that most stores are understaffed.

Workers want to address staffing and payment. Union enthusiasts listed a few issues to Vice News in December 2021. "Seniority pay, lower healthcare costs, sick pay, an accountability system for grievances, and improved health and safety protocols," they said. So far, the company has met one of the demands: credit card tipping. However, the coffee giant told Fortune that these efforts started before unions.

On October 25, Starbucks started negotiations with the union. They didn't last. Company representatives interrupted the first meeting. A.J. Jones, an executive vice president of communications, told NPR that the problem was that union leaders at the table wanted to record or broadcast negotiation talks on social media.

According to NPR, union representatives denied trying to broadcast or film meetings. They were including union members on Zoom calls, which they claim they were allowed to do. Some of those workers are part of what they call the "national bargaining committee," despite the negotiations being with each store individually.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery in New York City has been on strike since negotiations broke. According to NY1 News, employees complained about unsanitary working conditions. "This includes a moldy ice machine and a situation with bed bugs. We haven't heard from Starbucks about bargaining our contract," Laura Garza, a worker, told NY1.

Union representatives have also complained about how the company broke negotiations, claiming that the recording issue is an excuse. "It's just these little games they are playing with us and trying to stall," Ann Arbor shift supervisor Alyssa Coakley told Vice News back in October.

Workers feel neglected. "How are we partners in this? Starbucks loves to preach about us being partners," Carissa Frihart told Vice News. "How are we getting any reward for operating under these unfair conditions," she added.

Bennett Proegler, a former shift supervisor in Michigan, told Vice News that they expect the Red Cup strike wouldn't hurt the customers. No complaints have been registered. Hopefully, these new actions won't have that effect either. He claims staff and pay issues are affecting "the Starbucks experience."