Starbucks Workers United has made claims that a number of Starbucks stores in the US have banned decorations for Pride month despite the company’s history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Starbucks has denied the allegations, stating that its policies remain unchanged and that store leaders are encouraged to celebrate Pride month with their communities. The allegations come at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is facing increased attacks, including legislative efforts to restrict their rights and physical violence.
Claims and Denials
Starbucks Workers United, a union representing Starbucks workers, has claimed that many of the coffee chain’s stores in the US are not allowing employees to decorate for Pride month. The union alleges that in at least 22 states, district and store managers have told workers they cannot decorate for Pride month, or have taken down Pride flags that were already put up. The union also claims that some workers were told that there were not enough labor hours to allow for decorations, while others were told that some people did not feel represented by the “umbrella of pride”.
Starbucks has denied the allegations, stating that there has been no change to its policies on decorations and that the company continues to encourage store leaders to celebrate with their communities during Pride month. The company’s security and safety manual provides general guidance on decorations, but local store leaders and employees have the flexibility to make their own choices within those guidelines.
Context and Background
The allegations made by Starbucks Workers United come at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is facing increased attacks and legislative efforts to restrict their rights. Republican state lawmakers have targeted transgender people’s medical care and drag queens’ performances, and nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this session, according to an ACLU tally. Conservative activists have also been stoking backlash against corporations that show support for the LGBTQ+ community, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Kohl’s, and North Face.
Starbucks has a reputation as a progressive company, with a history of supporting its LGBTQ+ workers, including transgender baristas. The company extended health benefits to same-sex partnerships before same-sex marriage was legalized in the US in 2015, and its insurance has covered gender reassignment surgery since 2013. Workers have also received buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ+ rights.
The clash over Pride decorations also comes as Starbucks continues to battle its baristas over unionization. More than 300 company-owned locations have voted to unionize, but Starbucks has not yet signed a collective bargaining agreement with any of them. The union has accused Starbucks of delaying negotiations, while the company denies the allegations. Baristas have been attempting to use public pressure to bring Starbucks to the negotiating table.
Starbucks Workers United has claimed that some Starbucks stores in the US have banned Pride month decorations, while Starbucks has denied the allegations. The clash over decorations comes at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is facing increased attacks and legislative efforts to restrict their rights. Starbucks has a reputation as a progressive company, but is currently facing pressure from its baristas to sign a collective bargaining agreement.
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