Company claims it did not change policy, saying it 'unwaveringly' supports LGBTQIA2+ community
Does Starbucks have a new policy that prohibits workers from posting decorations in celebration of Pride Month?
A union representing workers at the chain claims the new policy aligns with recent policy changes at Target which removed Pride merchandise in response to threats and criticism from far-right anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
“In stores across the country, Starbucks has refused to let workers decorate for Pride and is also taking down Pride flags,” tweeted Starbucks Workers United (SWU). “This is contrary to previous years when workers were allowed, and even encouraged, to put up Pride decorations without incident.”
In March, Starbucks workers at over 100 US locations walked off the job to protest the employer’s anti-union efforts.
Petition for Pride decorations
The Pride decorations issue arose after a petition was directed to Brigitte Herbert, director of regional operations in Maryland, calling for her to “let Starbucks partners decorate for pride”.
“I was told that they had just implemented a new no-decorations policy. And I was like, ‘Right before Pride?’ That’s really suspicious and kind of weird,” said the worker from Virginia who started the petition, according to The Guardian.
“I was pretty sure it wasn’t just our store, because our store managers are very supportive of LGBT stuff, most of our employees are LGBT community members, and I was told that it was the regional manager’s decision.”
Denial of policy change
However, Starbucks claimed the decoration removals weren’t part of any corporate policy change because it was a regional management decision that affected their store, according to the Guardian.
“We unwaveringly support the LGBTQIA2+ community. There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for US Pride month in June,” said Andrew Trumbull, Starbucks spokesperson.
“We’re deeply concerned by false information that is being spread especially as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture and the benefits we offer our partners. Starbucks has a history that includes more than four decades of recognizing and celebrating our diverse partners and customers – including year-round support for the LGBTQIA2+ community.”
However, SWU cited numerous social media posts, videos and text messages indicating that the same thing happened in different parts of the country. Specifically, it occurred in stores in Madison, WI; Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; and the Mid-Atlantic region.
In March, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered the coffee giant to reinstate seven workers who were fired for their union activity and provide financial restitution for 27 other workers for violations like refusing to grant time off.
