Starbucks Barista Strike Over Dress Code Reaches 100 US Stores
Baristas at about 100 unionized Starbucks Corp. locations have walked off the job since Sunday over the company's new dress code, according to the labor group representing the workers.
The tally rose since Tuesday, when about employees at 50 locations had participated in the strikes, Starbucks Workers United said. The group represents baristas at about 570 of the chain's more than 10,000 company-operated locations in the US. Stores that experienced disruptions due to strikes earlier in the week are back to normal operations, while workers at additional locations walked off the job.
Starbucks on Monday implemented a new dress code that requires baristas to wear solid black tops, a change from prior practice that allowed any color. There are also new rules on the bottoms baristas can wear, among other changes. Workers United alleged in a complaint to the US National Labor Relations Board that the changes during contract talks violate the law and show the company wasn't negotiating fairly.
In a statement Wednesday, Starbucks said that less than 1% of workers at US locations have participated in the strikes, and that nearly all stores have been open and serving customers. As of Sept. 29, Starbucks employed 201,000 people in US company-operated stores, according to a filing.
'It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table that they're putting into protesting wearing black shirts to work,' Starbucks said.
Starbucks earlier said it would continue to bargain in good faith and that it wants to ensure that differences between what's agreed to in negotiations and what's implemented in stores are addressed 'lawfully and fairly.'
Baristas argue that the dress code won't improve operations as Starbucks seeks to reverse five straight quarters of same-store sales declines, adding that a new wardrobe puts financial pressure on workers. The company has said it would provide two Starbucks-branded shirts free of charge but couldn't guarantee they would arrive by May 12, when the new dress code went into effect.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Coca-Cola India's Charged unveils a new brand identity
HighlightsCharged, the electrifying drink by Coca-Cola India, has launched a bold new identity featuring a mascot named the Wolf, created by the branding agency Branded. The Wolf symbolises physical agility and mental alertness, embodying the brand's core philosophy of 'Mind Charged, Body Charged.' Sumeli Chatterjee, category head for sparkling flavours at The Coca-Cola Company, expressed excitement over the new packaging, which reflects the bold and unstoppable character of the drink. Charged, the electrifying drink by Coca-Cola India , has unveiled a bold new identity with the launch of its dynamic mascot — the Wolf. Created by Branded, the Wolf made its debut alongside the return of Aamir Khan 's Cave Man in the latest season of 'Mind Charged, Body Charged.' Since its introduction, the Wolf has become a powerful symbol of physical agility and mental alertness, perfectly embodying what it means to be Charged, the press note stated. Entrusted with reimagining the brand's visual world, Branded designed The Wolf to embody Charged's core philosophy: Mind Charged, Body Charged. With high contrast colours and precise detailing, the Wolf is a vivid reflection of how Charged keeps consumers switched on and ready to take on the day. Sumeli Chatterjee, category head, sparkling flavours (India and Southwest Asia) at The Coca-Cola Company said, 'We are thrilled to introduce our new packaging, which is bold, sharp, and unstoppable, perfectly reflecting the character of the drink.' 'In a category that's all adrenaline and attitude, we knew we had to create something that hits instantly. The wolf isn't just a mascot — it's a mindset,' said Ankur Rander, founder and chief executive officer at Branded.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
VE Commercial Vehicles sales surges 7.2% with 6,758 units in May
VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors , reported a total sales volume of 7,402 units in May 2025, registering a 7.3per cent growth compared to 6,901 units sold in May 2024. The performance was primarily driven by the Eicher-branded trucks and buses, which sold 7,258 units in May 2025, an 8per cent increase from 6,719 units sold in the same month last year. In the domestic commercial vehicle (CV) market, Eicher sold 6,758 units, up 7.2per cent from 6,304 units in May 2024, reflecting steady demand across key segments. Strong Export Performance VECV also saw a robust performance on the exports front, with 501 units sold in May 2025 compared to 415 units a year earlier — a 20.7per cent growth, underlining the company's expanding global reach and strong overseas demand for Eicher-branded vehicles. Volvo Brand Records Decline In contrast, Volvo Trucks and Buses reported a decline in performance, with 144 units sold in May 2025 compared to 182 units in May 2024 — a 20.9per cent de-growth. The decline is attributed to cyclical trends in the premium segment and slower project-related demand. Despite the dip in Volvo-branded sales, VECV's overall growth in May 2025 highlights resilient domestic demand and expanding export momentum, reinforcing its position as a key player in India's CV industry. The company continues to focus on innovation, expanding product offerings, and strengthening its presence across markets.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Victoria's Secret says it will postpone earnings report after recent security breach
Victoria's Secret is postponing the release of its quarterly earnings following a security breach that disrupted the popular lingerie brand's corporate operations and led it to take down its US shopping site for several days last week. In a Tuesday update, Victoria's Secret said it first detected a 'security incident involving its information technology systems' on May 24 — and immediately turned to response protocols in effects 'to contain and eradicate unauthorized network access,' which included engaging with third-party experts. The Ohio-based retailer added that it temporarily shut down corporate systems and its retail website on May 26 'as a precaution.' The Victoria's Secret website in the US stayed dark for several days after, sparking prolonged frustration among shoppers. It wasn't back online until late Thursday. While not directly confirmed by Victoria's Secret, the incident bore hallmarks of a cyberattack involving ransomware. Analysts note that more and more retailers are facing these kinds of attacks today — and pointed to the reach and length of disruptions impacting Victoria's Secret's operations. Beyond its website, some in-store services at Victoria's Secret namesake and Pink-branded locations were also shut down due to breach. But on Tuesday, the company said most of those functions had since been restored. Victoria's Secret also said Tuesday that it's still working to fully restore access to its corporate systems, which is why it's delaying its first-quarter earnings — noting that the process has 'prevented employees from accessing certain systems and information' needed to finalize and release the financial report. Still, the company shared some preliminary results. For its first quarter of 2025, which ended May 3, Victoria's Secret now expects to report $1.35 billion in net sales and an adjusted operating income of $32 million, exceeding previously-issued guidance. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect sales of about $1.33 billion, on average. Victoria's Secret did not immediately share a new date for the release of its first quarter earnings. Victoria's Secret maintained that last month's breach did not impact its first quarter results, as the period ended before the breach caused disruptions. But the company said it would continue to 'assess the full scope' of the incident, including expenses that might impact future finances. The 'security incident' impacting Victoria's Secret arrives as more and more companies report breaches that disrupt operations and/or expose customer data, particularly among retailers. Several British retailers — Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Co-op — have all shared that they've been targeted by cyberattacks over recent weeks, for example. The cyberattack hitting M&S stopped it from processing online orders and left store shelves empty, with the company estimating that this will cost it 300 million pounds ($400 million). And last month, Adidas announced that it had recently become aware of an 'unauthorized external party' obtaining some consumer data — mostly consisting of contact information — through a third-party customer service provider. Following any cybersecurity incident impacting a consumer-facing brand, experts warn that it's important for shoppers to be alert. Fraudsters might take advantage of the news to promise fake promotions through phishing emails, for example, or use sensitive information that may have been compromised.
