A marcher with a Starbucks walks through the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Highland during the annual Pride Parade in Los Angeles on June 12, 2022.
David McNew | Getty Images
Starbucks Dozens of U.S. locations of the coffee chain don’t allow employees to decorate for Pride month, the United Workers union said Tuesday.
In a statement to CNBC, Starbucks said the company is steadfast in its support of the LGBTQ+ community and has not changed its store renovation policy.
“No policy has changed on this matter, and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including Pride of America in June,” the company said.
A Starbucks spokesperson told CNBC that the company’s security and safety manual provides extensive guidance for decorating around stores. However, local store leaders and associates are free to make their own decorating choices within these guidelines.
The union’s demand comes as the LGBTQ+ community faces more serious attacks from protests to legislation to physical violence. Republican state lawmakers have targeted transgender medical care and drag queen performances.Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures during the session, according to a person familiar with the matter. ACLU Tally. Meanwhile, in recent months, conservative activists have launched a backlash against companies that say they support the LGBTQ+ community, including Anheuser-Busch InBev, Cole’s and The North Face.
Starbucks has long enjoyed a reputation as a progressive company, thanks to its history of supporting LGBTQ+ employees, including transgender baristas. Before the U.S. legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, its health benefits were extended to same-sex partnerships. Workers have previously received buttons and apparel celebrating LGBTQ+ rights. Starbucks insurance has covered gender reassignment surgery since 2013.
But the Starbucks Workers United said baristas in at least 22 states have reported instances of district and store managers telling them they couldn’t decorate for Pride month or store representatives taking down pride flags.
Some Massachusetts workers have been told there aren’t enough hours to arrange with partners for renovations, the union said. According to the labor group, managers told Maryland employees that some didn’t feel represented by “the umbrella of pride.”
In Oklahoma, workers told to limit renovations due to safety concerns amid recent attacks Target store, the union said. late may, Target Some Pride merchandise was pulled due to threats to employees. The retailer has also moved the Pride collection to less prominent areas of the floor at some of its southern stores. Washington post Target stores in at least five states were evacuated this weekend after bomb threats were reported.
Starbucks employees in Oklahoma are also banned from displaying pride flags in store windows. Starbucks policy prohibits blocking windows to ensure baristas have a clear view of the outside area.
The conflict over the Pride ornament also comes as Starbucks continues to battle baristas over unionization. More than 300 company-owned locations have voted to unionize, but no stores have yet signed a collective bargaining agreement with Starbucks.
The union accused Starbucks of delaying the negotiations, which the company denies. Baristas have been trying to use public pressure to bring the coffee giant to the negotiating table.