Last Updated on November 16, 2023, 8:26 PM | Published: November 16, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY – The OKC Starbucks [SBUX] store at 36th and May went on strike Thursday as part of the “Red Cup Rebellion” campaign launched by Starbucks Workers United. They went on strike over being understaffed and Starbucks refusing to bargain for a contract.
“Starbucks workers in Oklahoma City will strike on November 16, joining the coast-to-coast ‘Red Cup Rebellion’ demanding the coffee giant stop illegally refusing to bargain with baristas over staffing, scheduling, and other issues,” read the press release from the union.
“As the second Red Cup Rebellion happens today, my hope is that Starbucks will finally meet us at the collective bargaining table and listen to our demands,” Alisha Humphrey was quoted as saying in the press release. Humphrey is a barista at the 36th and May store.
Specific issues with promotion days
“We are tired of hour cuts, promo days with no additional staffing, and more minuscule benefit rollouts that exclude our Union stores,” Humphreys continued. “No Contract, No Coffee!”
The statement continued, “Promotion days like Red Cup Day, half-off ThursYays, and Buy One Get One Free offers cause a flood of customers to stores, without additional staffing to cover the influx in orders. On Red Cup Day, drink orders pile up and are abandoned, lines are out the door, and Starbucks workers are left to handle angry customers who have had to wait as much longer than usual for their beverages and food all while trying to make complicated holiday specialty beverages as fast as possible.”
There’s a history of the union trying to get these things addressed with Starbucks.
Earlier this fall, workers filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over Starbucks refusing to bargain over things like promotion days.
“Promotion days like Red Cup Day, half-off ThursYays, and Buy One Get One Free offers cause a flood of customers to stores, without additional staffing to cover the influx in orders,” the statement continued.
“On Red Cup Day, drink orders pile up and are abandoned, lines are out the door, and Starbucks workers are left to handle angry customers who have had to wait as much longer than usual for their beverages and food all while trying to make complicated holiday specialty beverages as fast as possible.”
Starbucks workers have demanded that mobile ordering be turned off for promotion days.
Nationwide action
Free Press was at the scene and spoke to multiple people about the day’s strike.
Collin Pollitt, union organizer at 23rd and Robinson, explained what the strike is all about.
“Today we’re out here joining the Red Cup Rebellion which is a strike across the country with more than 100 stores,” said Pollitt. “We are protesting them not coming to the bargaining table in good faith. This time of year is the busiest time of year for workers and they chronically understaffed us. We want them to come to the bargaining table and negotiate a contract.”
He ended with a quote from Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers: “You never win what you don’t fight for.”
Kyle Creasey gave his opinions on the matter. “I’m here in support and solidarity with all the Starbucks workers here. I definitely want to continue to support their worker rights, and it’s really unfair how Starbucks is treating them.”
He continued, “Everyone in this country is a worker, and to a certain extent have certain rights and if we don’t exercise them we could lose them.”
Why at 36th and May?
Wren Rice, barista at 36th and May, echoed some of the same concerns with Starbucks staffing issues. “So today’s strike is all about our understaffing and how frustrating that can be. For starters, all throughout September, we had a ‘Thirsty Thursday’ where you can get any cold drink and get another one for free or get one half off.”
“They would literally have three people on the floor which is unmanageable, and it’s frustrating to have that sort of pressure put on us when we don’t have any sort of support as well as turning some of these busiest, most expensive days with no proper tipping solely because we’re a union.”
Rice elaborated on the understaffing of the store. “Our understaffing issues have been going on for a while at this point. Honestly its a problem with every shift. If a single barista happens to be sick and calls out, it can bring the whole store down.”
Neha Cremin, barista at 36th and May, also spoke with Free Press. She said, “Today is Red Cup Day which is Starbucks’ busiest sales day of the year, so 100s of stores across the nation are going on strike today to protest Starbucks refusing to negotiate a contract with us.”
She added, “They’re union-busting, but specifically, the amount of understaffing we’ve dealt with. Especially this past month as Starbucks has implemented a bunch of promotional days where we have an influx of customers, and we’re staffed with maybe 3 or 4 workers, which is just an unsafe working condition.”
The “Red Cup Rebellion” campaign is the latest action in a nationwide labor movement aimed at increasing workers’ pay and working conditions. The UAW and Teamsters have recently earned their contracts while Starbucks refuses to even come to the table with their workers, and has racked up a record number of ULPs and charges from the NLRB.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
