Red cup rebellion: Iowa City Starbucks workers join strikes happening nationwide

On Thursday, Iowa City Starbucks employees picketed outside the Clinton Street Starbucks as part of a nationwide protest called the “Red Cup Rebellion.” In a plea to the coffee giant, baristas are demanding an end to its refusal to bargain with them concerning staffing, scheduling, and other issues. The strike coincided with Red Cup Day, one of Starbucks' busiest customer traffic days, during which tens of thousands of free reusable cups are distributed.

A small group of Starbucks employees and supporters gathered outside the downtown location, 228 S. Clinton St. in Iowa City, holding signs and playing upbeat music. Cars that passed the group honked in support, emitting cheers from protesters. The Clinton Street Starbucks voted 25-0 to unionize last March, and have staged at least three protests since then. Abigail Scheppmann, spokesperson for the striking workers and five-year employee of Starbucks, said the ideal outcome would be the ability to bargain a contract with the coffee giant. “We just want our fair cut,” she said.

Promotionals nightmare for workers

According to a press release provided to the CBJ, workers filed an unfair labor practice charge this past fall with the National Labor Relations Board, challenging Starbucks' refusal to bargain during promotion days. Events like Red Cup Day, half-off ThursYays, and Buy One Get One Free offers result in a surge of customers without a corresponding increase in staffing. On Red Cup Day, the accumulation of drink orders, long lines, and the subsequent handling of disgruntled customers contribute to a challenging work environment for Starbucks employees. The strain intensifies as workers try to make complicated holiday specialty beverage orders as fast as possible. When the red cups run out, customers are disappointed and take their frustration out at the workers, the statement said.

Clinton Street Starbucks barista Luis Aispuro would like to negotiate a contract that would address current challenges facing employees, such as understaffing, revolving management, and being overworked and underpaid. Employees earn a $15 hourly wage, a number awarded to employees as an incentive to not unionize, Ms. Scheppmann said. Employees would like to ideally earn $20 an hour. According to Ms. Scheppmann and Mr. Aispuro, one of the top frustrating challenges facing employees are the frequent promotions pushed by Starbucks that result in a surplus of orders that baristas are unable to keep up with. It’s not uncommon for lines to form outside the door and order wait times of up to an hour, resulting in angry customers.

“Baristas get nothing for it except getting yelled at,” said Ms. Scheppmann, saying that corporate headquarters reap the financial benefits while employees are left with the short end of the stick. Employees are not allowed to disable mobile orders, even if they are unable to keep up with demand. Workers are calling on Starbucks to disable mobile ordering on upcoming promotional days, which company executives are increasingly incorporating into the schedule. Ms. Scheppmann emphasized the toll promotional days take on staff, citing increased burnout and unsustainable order volumes, leading to outlandish wait times for customers. Non-employees showed up to hold signs to demonstrate their support. Dave Cocho, a University of Iowa sophomore majoring in political science, and Miranda Schene, third year graduate student working within the molecular physiology department, found out about the protest through their involvement with student group organizations, such as the Young Democratic Socialists of America and Campaign to Organize Graduate Students. “Rights for one are rights for all,” said Ms. Schene.

Starbucks issues statement

Starbucks issued a statement when reached for comment, calling for Workers United to “fulfill their obligations.” “We are aware that Workers United has publicized a day of action at a small subset of our U.S. stores this week. We remain committed to working with all partners, side-by-side, to elevate the everyday, and we hope that Workers United’s priorities will shift to include the shared success of our partners and working to negotiate contracts for those they represent,” the statement read. “Despite escalating rhetoric and recurring rallies demanding a contract, Workers United hasn't agreed to meet to progress contract bargaining in more than five months. As we join together to uplift the holiday season and reflect on the past year, we again call on Workers United to fulfill their obligations and engage in the work of negotiating first contracts on behalf of the partners they represent. Starbucks remains ready to progress in-person negotiations with the unions certified to represent partners.”

Starbucks mentioned that they are encouraged by the progress they’re seen toward first contracts at stores, citing the professionalism and willingness to discuss partner priorities between union representatives and Starbucks’ bargaining committees, but expressed frustration with the progress regarding Workers United. “Workers United represents partners at approximately 340 active U.S. stores. To date, its representatives have only responded to 20% of the more than 500 bargaining sessions that Starbucks has proposed for individual stores,” the statement read. “In an ongoing attempt to progress negotiations for individual stores, Starbucks has continued to propose dates for bargaining sessions on a weekly basis — but Workers United has failed to confirm any proposed session since June 14, 2023, and has refused to meaningfully engage with the company to propose and confirm alternative dates for first bargaining sessions. Starbucks is currently waiting for Workers United to confirm five recently proposed sessions for individual stores in Denver, Colorado; Ledgewood, New Jersey; Clemson, South Carolina; Lexington, South Carolina; and Danbury, Connecticut. Other union organizations involved with Starbucks negotiations include the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Steel Workers.

Reports of retaliation

Former CBJ reporter Noah Tong reported on Starbucks' opposition to union formations back in May. "Starbucks leadership has adopted a hardline stance opposing organizing efforts," the article read. "In May, unionized Starbucks locations in Ithaca, New York were shuttered. Workers claimed it was in retaliation for strike efforts, according to news reports. "The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued 93 complaints covering 328 unfair labor practices against Starbucks since late 2021, with the coffee corporation being forced to reinstate 23 fired workers after rulings went in favor of workers, according to The Guardian." On Thursday, the Clinton Street Starbucks remained closed. The other Iowa City and Coralville locations stayed open, but declined to comment on the protest.