West Hartford Starbucks Workers Go On Strike Wednesday

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Unionized Starbucks employees at a West Hartford coffee shop are on strike Wednesday morning, demanding a better contract as well as well as an end to what workers say are the company's "attacks" on LGBTQIA+ workers.

The strike is at the West Hartford site on Corbins Corner, 1449b New Britain Ave., and it's slated to go from 7 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, with the shop not opening per usual Wednesday morning.

The Corbins Corner branch of Starbucks Workers United, the employee union, accused the coffee giant of taking part in a "relentless union-busting campaign."

Employees claim Starbucks has threatened certain LGBTQIA+ employees' health care benefits, as well as banned Starbucks shops from putting up Pride decorations during Pride month.

Union members accuse Starbucks of hypocrisy regarding what its image is and what the reality is behind the counter.

"This company's reputation was built on its supposedly progressive policies and the public's perception of it as a welcoming space for all. We want the public to understand just how misplaced their trust and their dollars are in this company that calls itself a friend of the LGBTQIA+ community, while simultaneously quashing all celebration of the community within our stores. LGBTQIA+ workers deserve all of the respect, dignity and security that Starbucks claims to provide," said Travis Genney, a 12-year shift supervisor at the West Hartford Corbin’s Corner location, in a statement.

"As Starbucks baristas, we are the face of Starbucks whenever a customer visits a store. We deserve better for what we are demanded to do," added Brittney Braga, a two- year barista at the West Hartford Corbin’s Corner location, in a statement.

West Hartford's strike is part of a nationwide strike by Starbucks employees nationwide at many shops.

"Starbucks claims to be a company that cares about its LGBTQIA+ workers. Yet in reality, they are tokenizing workers for good press and higher profits," wrote the union in a stateent.

"Workers are fighting back against Starbucks’ performative allyship and demanding the company respect their rights by negotiating in good faith at the bargaining table. "

The strike comes a day after Starbuck posted several pictures and a release about the company's support of the LGBTQIA2+ community.

Those photos show Starbucks employees, called "partners," at Pride events nationwide donning t-shirts and waiving Pride flags.

For more information on the national Starbucks strike, click on this link.