Starbucks Workers at This Unionized Store in Santa Cruz Just Went on Strike | Eater SF

"I learned that workers at the 745 Ocean Street Starbucks location in Santa Cruz will stage a three-day strike beginning Saturday, August 13 (anticipated to run from 5:30 a.m. that day through 5:29 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16), with a noon rally planned outside the store. Organizer Joe Thompson, a Starbucks shift supervisor who remains a union member, says the stoppage responds to alleged unfair labor practices: Starbucks announced “unilateral changes to hours,” denied wage and benefit improvements based on union membership, and interfered with the union’s ability to distribute pro-union materials. The 24 unionized employees voted unanimously to stop work, and the Ocean store is the only Santa Cruz location participating in this action; Thompson says they’ve received strong support from community partners and first responders. He also notes staff intend to follow labor-law guidelines (intermittent striking is illegal) while remaining prepared to strike again — a majority also voted to authorize an indefinite strike — and that the NLRB is processing numerous charges as the company has faced negative press for what workers describe as dubious behavior toward the union over the past year." - Paolo Bicchieri