The employees belonging to the Starbucks in the Ithaca Commons have now joined with 100 other stores currently on strike.
The strike on Thursday was calling on Corporate to bargain as union efforts continue among store locations. The strike happened during Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day. On Red Cup Day the stores give out free red holiday cups. The day leads to an increase in orders, so the unions going on strike this day brought a lot of attention. One of the biggest issues according to the union are the dangerous working conditions.
SBWorkersUnited Union nicknamed the strike “Red Cup Rebellion.” 113 stores made up of nearly 2,000 employees joined in on it, including 15 workers at the Ithaca Commons store.
According to CNY Central, one of the workers in Ithaca, Evan Sunshine shared their reasons for going on strike.
“We need to focus on ourselves, and fight the good fight for the things that we stand for which are better wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions on the floor,” Sunshine said.
The Ithaca Commons location voted to unionize in the spring, as well as two other locations in Ithaca. The location on College Avenue was closed following the vote, which Starbucks denies has any relation to the vote. The National Labor Relations Board found merit in the claim from the union that the store was closed in retaliation to the vote to unionize. A complaint has been filed, calling the actions of Starbucks illegal.
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