Starbucks Workers Go on Strike to Protest Pride Decorations

Workers across the nation at about 150 Starbucks locations went on strike last friday protesting the store’s policy for Pride decorations.

Starbucks Workers United has claimed that the company has restricted or banned Pride decorations in stores. “This seems to be the first year the publicly “pro-LGBTQ+” company has taken this kind of stance,” the union wrote in a statement on Twitter.

Starbucks, however, is denying these claims. According to the company, store leaders are given the freedom to decorate the stores as they please for Pride or other heritage months as long as the decorations match up the safety guidelines.

Starbucks is not aware of any storefront that has banned Pride decorations, per CNN.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the company “unwaveringly supports the LGBTQIA+ community.” The union claims that Starbucks’ response has not been consistent with what is happening in stores and claims it is “bowing to pressure” much like Target did after receiving criticism and threats about its Pride merchandise.