Starbucks baristas strike over dress code, signal more walkouts

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https://fortune.com/article/starbucks-strike-barista-union-dress-code-coffee/

BY Daniela Sirtori and Bloomberg
May 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM EDT

Hundreds of Starbucks Corp. employees have walked off the job since Sunday to protest the company’s new dress code, according to the union representing baristas, with more strikes likely in the coming days.

The walkouts have occurred at more than 50 U.S. stores, Starbucks Workers United said. The union represents baristas at about 570 of the chain’s more than 10,000 company-operated locations in the US. Starbucks said that there’s been no significant impact to store operations on a national level and most stores are open and serving customers as usual.

The coffee chain on Monday implemented a new dress code that requires baristas to wear solid black tops, a change from prior practice that allowed any color. There are also new rules on the bottoms baristas can wear, among other changes.

Workers United filed a complaint with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board alleging that Starbucks’ dress-code changes during contract talks violate the law and show the company wasn’t negotiating fairly.

FULL story and video at link.