Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional comments from Starbucks and Workers United.
Despite continually attempting to brand itself as an LGBTQ+ friendly company, Starbucks has reportedly banned Pride decorations from some stores, according to a labor charge filed with the National Labor Review Board by the union Starbucks Workers United.
On Tuesday morning, Starbucks United tweeted about the move, noting that it appears to be the first year that the company has taken such a stance.
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Starbucks workers initially started a petition appealing to Laxman Narasimhan, the CEO of Starbucks, at the beginning of June, claiming that some had been told they were no longer allowed to decorate their stores for Pride or other holidays.
“In a time where LGBT+ rights, transgender rights especially, are under attack, it's important that both customers and partners feel supported and welcomed,” the text of the petition reads. It also notes that both workers and customers benefit from the decorations, with workers expressing that decorating stores for Pride makes them “feel more involved with the store and free to express themselves.”
“Why is the company backing away from supporting its LGBT partners?” the petition asks. “What is there to gain from making every store depressingly identical, with no personality?” At the time of publication, the petition had over 2,500 signatures.
On June 7, Workers United filed a labor charge against the corporation with the National Labor Relations Board. A copy of the charge obtained by Them alleges that Starbucks “unilaterally” eliminated and/or prohibited Pride decorations at unionized stores in Oklahoma City. The charge also alleges that Starbucks refused to bargain with the union about the decision or its effects on the workers.
The union’s Twitter thread also likened the situation to Target’s own move to remove Pride merchandise and displays from stores, following criticism from right-wing media and subsequent harassment and threats of violence.
“Starbucks is powered by many queer workers, but management has failed to materially support the LGBTQ+ community,” the Twitter thread reads. The union also stated that some workers reported that their “transgender benefit plan” changed, which allegedly caused them to pay out of pocket and lose access to certain providers. Starbucks initially threatened to take away that benefit at unionized stores last June; the union similarly filed a National Labor Relations Board charge against the coffee chain at that time as well.
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“If Starbucks was a true ally, they would stand up for us, especially during a time when LGBTQ+ people are under attack,” the union tweeted. “A company that cares wouldn’t turn their back on the LGBTQ+ community to protect their already astronomically high profits.”
Workers United concluded its thread by asserting that “True allyship with the LGBTQ+ community is negotiating a union contract that legally locks-in our benefits, our freedom of expression, and ways to hold management accountable.”
In an initial statement to multiple media outlets, Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull denied that the corporation had made any changes to company policy. “We unwaveringly support the LGBTQIA2+ community,” Trull said. “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 U.S. Pride month in June.” He added that the company was “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 sent out a nearly identical internal email, obtained by Them, to workers on Wednesday morning. However, Workers United stated in a Wednesday press release that Starbucks’ response was “a clear continuation of Starbucks’ anti-union campaign to intimidate workers and make them feel unwelcome in their own workplace.”
Starbucks workers in stores from Madison, Wisconsin to Atlanta, Georgia have taken to social media to report that their stores weren’t being allowed to decorate for Pride. Starbucks Workers United also shared screenshots from the r/Starbucks subreddit with Them, in which multiple people claiming to be employees alleged that they’d been asked to take down Pride flags and other decorations at their stores, as well as screenshots of communications from managers claiming that Pride decor was being banned to create a more consistent aesthetic across stores.
Neha Cremin, a partner at an Oklahoma City Starbucks, said that at the end of last year, her store manager took down the Trans Pride flag. “We were told that upper management wanted every Starbucks store to have an identical, homogenous look. The trans pride flag didn’t fit that image,” Cremin said in a statement provided by Workers United. She noted that the store consists of mostly LGBTQ+ workers, and is located near Oklahoma City’s historic gay district with many queer customers to boot. Despite that, Cremin said that there were no Pride decorations at her store this year.
“When a corporation attempts to remove all personality from their stores to increase profits, demoralize employees, and discourage unionization, it’s no surprise that pride decorations get removed as well,” Cremin said. “No personal queer expression is uniform or sterile enough for a corporation.”
Shenby G., a worker at a Starbucks in Columbus, Ohio who uses she/they pronouns, said in a statement that she was also not allowed to hang a Pride flag at their store this year. “Partners felt unsafe, they felt attacked, and they felt like the company was taking a page out of the right-wing reactionary’s playbook,” they said. “Trans and Queer workers make Starbucks run, and by taking down our flag and refusing to bargain with us for a fair contract, the company is showing that they will put profit, and themselves, over the workers.”
In response to these allegations, a Starbucks spokesperson told Them that the company was “working to ensure all stores are aligned to our longstanding guidance, which empowers local leaders to support partner celebration and recognition of a variety of heritage months.”
“As for in-store displays, partners can continue work with their local leaders to find ways to authentically celebrate with their diverse communities year-round within our safety standards, signage policies and dress code,” the spokesperson continued. “If a partner reports any complaints of bias or discrimination we will always investigate, and all partners have access to confidential and/or anonymous reporting.”
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