Roughly 10 Starbucks workers picketed outside the Iowa City Clinton Street location of the national coffee chain Friday as part of the national “Red Cup Rebellion” strike. The workers are demanding a re-evaluation of employee contracts and an end to “unfair labor practices.”
The strike is named after Starbucks’ “Red Cup Day,” which takes place on Nov. 13, where famous red cups are given to customers with each order. The workers at the Clinton Street location have been striking since Thursday and have said they will continue to do so until the contracts of all Starbucks employees are reviewed.
The Iowa City Starbucks location joins more than 145 stores across the nation in striking against reported unfair labor practices, union busting, and Starbucks’ failure to finalize a fair union contract, with the numbers growing every day.
University of Iowa fourth-year student and Starbucks barista of four years, Madelin Schwager, was at the picket line for the strike today to better working conditions for her and her coworkers.
“We are just out here because we want fair labor practices, more consistent scheduling, and better pay,” Schwager said. “That’s why we started our unit to begin with, to get rid of our first manager and get better working conditions for ourselves.”
Abigail Scheppmann, a barista of three years and strike leader, was also at the picket line for the strike today. As strike leader, Scheppmann organized the location’s employees to join the national strike.
Scheppmann said the Iowa City workers have been working with the Red Cup Union to put together the “Red Cup Rebellion,” which has required lots of planning. Scheppman said there are 30 tentative agreements already, but the union is waiting for Starbucks to “come back to the table and finish our contract.”
She said workers are waiting for economic proposals, improved wages, and better benefits. Iowa City workers will protest until this is achieved, she said.
“We’ll be here tomorrow, and then Monday through Friday next week. And the strike is indefinite, so it’s going until we get our contract,” Scheppmann said.
UI fourth-year student and Starbucks employee, James Nordholm, who said employees are upset that Starbucks has dishonored “promised” contract benefits set in April.
Nordholm, who also helped led the picket, said it is difficult to be a student and work part-time. He and other protesters were juggling going to class and advocating at the picket. Nordholm said he communicated with professors that he would not be in class. As finals approach, other picketers said they were picketing in between classes.
“We just think that the conditions that we are working in and asking to at least have stable scheduling and better working conditions are not too much to ask for,” Nordholm said.
Roxy Ekberg and Shreya Reddy contributed to this report.