One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Starbucks Employees Begin Three-Day ‘Double-Down’ Strike Across 100 Stores — 4 In LA area
The Starbucks logo is displayed on the exterior of a Starbucks store in a file photo.
(
Justin Sullivan
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
Employees at four Los Angeles County Starbucks locations walked out today, demanding better staffing, pay and health insurance. They're part of a three-day strike happening across 100 U.S. stores.
Where in L.A.? Stores participating in the strike include Little Tokyo, Cypress Park, Long Beach and Lakewood locations.
Why this is happening: In October, Starbucks Workers United had its first and only bargaining session. The labor group has filed at least 446 unfair labor practice charges against Starbucks.
What employees are saying: Long Beach barista Josie Serrano strongly supports the strike, saying that Starbucks has been enacting policies to undermine the union’s efforts. Serrano says:
“Starbucks is doubling down on their union busting nationwide, they're closing union stores, they're firing union partners, and we're here to say that [if] they're going to double down on that, then we're going to double down on our strike.”
Reaction from Starbucks: Starbucks told the Associated Press it "opposes the unionization effort, saying the company functions better when it works directly with employees."
Sponsored message
Go deeper:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
