WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Unionized employees at a Starbucks in West Hartford are among thousands nationwide walking off the job on Wednesday.
They say managers are pulling LGBTQ+ decorations from stores, and they also believe the company's labor practices are unfair.
Starbucks is firing back at the claims, filing unfair labor practice charges against the union.
The Starbucks located at Corbin's Corner is the first Starbucks in Connecticut to unionize. Employees said the strike is one day, designed to send a message to Starbucks corporate.
“It’s making sure that we continue progress," said Charles Poventund, a Starbucks Corbin’s Corner union employee.
The union, Starbucks Workers United, said more than 150 stores and nearly 3,500 employees are joining the strikes nationwide.
The union argued that dozens of the coffee chain's stores are not allowing employees to decorate for Pride Month.
"We, ourselves at this store, our district manager removed Pride flags that were put up very innocuously and told us we could not have them on display," said Travis Glenney-Tegtmeier, an employee at the Corbin's Corner Starbucks location. "We, as well as the other stores across the nation have decided to strike for this reason. We feel like our voices are being infringed upon."
“I was here last year for Pride Month and it was a very different environment. There were rainbows everywhere," said Erin Lee, a Starbucks Corbin’s Corner union employee.
In a statement to FOX61, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said:
“Despite public commentary, there has been no change to any of our policies as it relates to our inclusive store environments. We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for U.S. Pride month in June, as we always have.”
The union is also fighting for what they call a more fair contract with better pay and benefits. They claim that Starbucks gives additional benefits to non-union stores and threatens access to benefits like gender-affirming care.
Starbucks Spokesperson Andrew Trull said regarding the union's claims said:
"Workers United continues to spread false information about our benefits, policies, and negotiation efforts—a tactic used to seemingly divide our partners and deflect from their failure to respond to bargaining sessions for more than 200 stores.”
In response to claims regarding gender-affirming care, Trull said:
"At no time has Starbucks taken away — or threatened to take away — benefits currently provided to any partner. All partners enrolled in a Starbucks health plan have access to industry-leading gender-affirming care benefits regardless of organizing activity or representation status."
Angelo Bavaro is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at abavaro@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.