Employees from Starbucks’ Capitol Square and State Street locations rallied on the Square on Saturday in support of fair contract negotiations and better protections for queer employees, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The rally, called “Strike with Pride,” was organized by the Starbucks Workers Union as part of an effort by Starbucks employees across the country who said their stores were forced to take down Pride Month decorations and given inconsistent reasons why. The action closed 21 stores last weekend.
Allegations from the union include that Starbucks officials have threatened workers’ health benefits — including gender-affirming care for transgender employees — if they unionize.
Starbucks sells its pride merchandise in store and online but — in an effort to justify the removal of pride decorations in stores — has allegedly told multiple locations that they can be too politically charged.
Rally demands included better wages, staffing, hours, and health care. The company is currently facing prosecution by the National Labor Relations Board for not bargaining in good faith with employees; it faces over 700 open cases filed by locations including three Madison stores.
