Columbus,โค OH – Baristas and supporters picketed a Starbucks location on North High Street Saturday, demanding a fair union contract โfrom theโ coffee giant as โthe company faces scrutiny over โฃrecent store closures and job cuts. The protest,held outside the Starbucks โคat 1784 N. High St.โ near the University District, โฃhighlighted ongoing tensions between โStarbucks โWorkers โขUnited and theโ corporation.
The dispute centersโ on stalled contract negotiations,โฃ with baristas โคalleging the company is unwilling to compromise on keyโ issues affecting working โconditions and benefits. This action comes days after Starbucks announced the closure ofโ hundreds ofโ underperforming โขstores nationwide, eliminatingโค approximately 900 jobs – a move protesters say demonstrates a disregard for employees.
“They view us as dispensable,” said Sabina Aguirre,a barista involved in the dispute,addressing the crowd โthrough call-and-responseโ chants. “I thinkโ the store closures were a really big testament to that.”
Starbucks announced the store closures on September โ25,but โnoโฃ Columbus or Ohio locations were initially included in theโ list. Though, protestersโฃ argue the closures โnationwide โunderscore a broader pattern of โขprioritizing โprofits over employee well-being.
Barista Siti Pulcheon displayedโ a Starbucks Workers United T-shirt during the protest, symbolizing the collective action of union members. Aguirre emphasized that the baristasโค involved are dedicated to their jobs โandโ customers,โ but current working conditions are makingโฃ it increasingly tough.
“We don’t want to go on strike,” โขAguirre stated. “We don’t wantโค to have to take these actions. But if โฃit โขis necessary to get that contract,โ we are willing to do โฃwhatever we need to.”
The protest reflects a larger national โขmovement by Starbucks Workersโค United to secure collective bargaining agreements with the company.Negotiations have been ongoing for months, with union representatives seeking improvementsโฃ in areas such as wages, benefits, and scheduling practices.