Last Updated on December 20, 2022, 11:27 AM | Published: December 18, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – Starbucks employees at one store in OKC went on strike Sunday morning to protest what they consider to be unfair labor practices of the Starbucks Corporation (SBUX). The local action was in conjunction with a nation-wide strike.
The national effort has been dubbed the “Double Down Strike.” Over 100 stores and over 1,000 union workers went on strike across the U.S. for what Starbucks Workers United union believes to be unfair labor practices being carried out by Starbucks.
The OKC Starbucks workers from the 23rd and Robinson store went on strike during the hours before noon Sunday, and some of the union members from the 36th and May store joined their picket line.
Only supervisors and managers were left to serve customers from 8 a.m. until noon at the store. In some other locations around the U.S., the strike stretched over three days starting Friday.
In OKC, employees, a few customers, and supporters gathered in solidarity outside with signs and picketing. Some other organizations that showed up in support were the Teamsters and Red Dirt Collective.
One supporter of OKC Starbucks Workers United, Robert K. Stock, said he heard about the strike from a meeting of the Oklahoma chapter of The Poor People’s Campaign. He said, “It’s important to support all workers because an injury to one is an injury to all. With Oklahoma being so unfriendly to unions, we need to support as many union actions as possible.”
Why?
There are a few things that the workers are asking Starbucks to do:
- Come to the bargaining table in good faith to negotiate a contract.
- Quit firing organizers in retaliation for unionizing.
- Stop closing stores that unionize.
- Stop management from cutting their hours.
- Stop leaving the workers short-staffed. Stores have been so short-staffed that they haven’t been able to take breaks.
- Allow employees at union stores to get credit and debit card tips the same as non-unionized stores.
Free Press spoke with Kat Hudgins, a worker at the 23rd and Robinson store, for details about what they’re looking for.
Hudgins said, “Upper management has cut our hours. They are often leaving us short-staffed where we’re so busy that it’s really hard to take breaks.” She continued, “We have been denied credit card tipping at the store, even though it started to be implemented to other stores.”
As far as Starbucks shutting down stores, Hudgins said, “There are locations all across the nation that are being shut down as a form of union busting,”
Hudgins also mentioned the difficulties in negotiating with Starbucks. She said, “We are also on strike because they’re not coming to the bargaining table with us. They’re just not responding to our messages.”
‘Fear and intimidation’
We also talked to a 23rd and Robinson worker and organizer, Jacob Bone who signaled the same frustrations.
“We formed our union, and the union has the right to bargain collectively and get us a contract that will ensure that our rights are protected, and we can’t be dismissed for no reason. Also, we want to stop the firing of union organizers, and the closing of union stores,” Bone said.
They made it clear that they want to work for Starbucks and be a member of the community serving people, but management has been making it increasingly difficult for them.
“The culture of fear and intimidation have made it difficult,” said Bone. And that’s why we’ve come together in the union, and that’s why we’re on strike today.”
When asked about the debit and credit card tips, they added, “One of the specific issues we’re having is credit and debit card tips. Those are being brought to non-union stores but not union stores, and that could be over five dollars an hour, so that’s a big hit to our bottom line.”
Other workers, Shulanda Jennings from 23rd and Robinson store, mentioned needing a pay raise. She said, “Management has been a little stiff, and protective of their positions.” Asked about what needs to be addressed at her store, “A pay raise for the workers. Definitely a lot more incentive as far as safe work environment. Definitely more worker rights.”
Corporate pushback
There was some pushback from the company over the strike at 23rd and Robinson, specifically from the district manager.
The police were called over a dispute on whether striking workers are allowed on the property.
Alisha Humphrey, organizer for Starbucks union, said, “The police came by because the district manager called the police to stop walking through the parking lot and drive through because he ‘doesn’t want them to get ran over’, and so we moved to public property where we were told to go. She continued, “We do have the legal right to be on private property since we are using our protected right to strike.”
Nationwide action
The “Double Down Strike” is the “longest collective action in the campaign’s history and is the latest escalation against Starbucks’ ruthless campaign of anti-union bullying,” according to a statement released by Workers United.
This has been part of a national push for unionization in Starbucks.
Starbucks workers have won over 270 union elections, and have over 7,000 union workers. The NLRB has issued over 45 Complaints against Starbucks related to over 900 violations of federal labor law.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
