Boston Starbucks Employees Join More Than 100 Stores Nationwide On Picket Lines

Workers at more than 100 Starbucks locations across the country — including several in Boston — went on strike Thursday because they say the company will not negotiate in good faith and is trying to stop more stores from unionizing.

Workers at a Starbucks in Waterton also joined in on the picket lines.
Photo Credit: *Boston DSA/DSA Working Mass*

Josh Lanier

11/17/2022 2:51 p.m.

The workers say they are striking in an effort to force the coffee giant to discuss better staffing at stores and other concessions, according to the Starbucks Workers Union website. The group also says Starbucks is fighting efforts for more stores to unionize.

Seven stores in the Boston area took part in the strike, according to the Boston Starbucks Workers United Twitter account. Those include:

Cleveland Circle in Brookline
Coolidge Corner in Brookline
874 Commonwealth Ave. in Brookline
217 Western Ave. in Allston
1304 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston
Federal Street in Downtown Boston
308 West Broadway in Gardner

The group is calling the strike the Red Cup Rebellion, a nod to Thursday being Red Cup Day when customers can get a collectible and reusable red cup with certain orders. The striking workers are offering their own red cups to people who visit their locations.

Starbucks told Axios that the company supported "lawful protest activity — though our focus has been, and continues to be, on uplifting the Starbucks experience for our partners and customers."

The protest is planned only for Thursday.

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