Starbucks limits colour options for employees to highlight its iconic green apron
More than 2,000 baristas at Starbucks have gone on strike in the United States in protest against the company's new uniform policy, according to reports.
Starbucks Workers United said baristas at 120 stores in the US have participated in the strike, which started on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.
Baristas are opposing the new dress code rolled out by Starbucks on May 12, requiring staff to wear black-coloured tops and either khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. It aims to highlight the company's iconic green apron.
It is also making a new line of company-branded t-shirts available to baristas, who will receive two at no cost.
But Starbucks Workers United said the new "conservative dress code" is restricting the gender expression of employees.
"This new dress code hurts partners. Starbucks workers are racially diverse, disabled, queer, and trans," the union said in a statement in April. "We need a dress code that allows us to show up as our full selves at work."
In a later statement, the union said they are not just protesting over a shirt colour, claiming that the company made a big decision without bargaining with them.
"They refuse to staff our stores properly, give guaranteed hours to workers, pay us a living wage, or provide stipends to pay for this arbitrary dress code," the union said.
"Starbucks needs to fulfill their legal obligation and bargain with union workers over all policy changes - including the enforcement of this new, regressive dress code."
According to the Associated Press, the union has filed a complaint with the National Labour Relations Board over Starbucks' failure to bargain over the new dress code.
In a statement, Starbucks said more than 99% of its stores remain open to serve customers.
"It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table that they're putting into protesting wearing black shirts to work," Starbucks told the AP.
The company previously said its updated dress code aims to create a "sense of familiarity" for customers.
"By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers," it said in April.
