Starbucks Threatens to Take Away Trans Rights at Stores That Unionize

[Behind the Aegis]

Multiple employees have alleged that Starbucks is threatening to take away trans healthcare coverage at locations that plan to unionize, according to a Bloomberg report. The move comes shortly after the company offered to cover employee costs for travel expenses for obtaining trans and reproductive health care.

Workers United, the coffee chain’s burgeoning union, filed a charge against the company with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Monday, according to a copy of the charge obtained by Them. The filing alleges that in the past six months, Starbucks has created a “coercive and hostile environment meant to intimidate and prevent its employees from supporting Workers United.”

That reportedly includes “threatening employees with the loss of benefits (including the loss of gender-affirming healthcare for transgender employees) if they voted to be represented by a union,” in addition to reducing hours, removing store managers following union activities, offering pay raises to non-unionized stores, and more. (It’s worth noting that Starbucks’ trans healthcare coverage only extends to those who work at least 20 hours a week, meaning that cutting hours is a double-edged sword for trans workers who don’t want to lose their coverage.)

Neha Cremin, a Starbucks worker in Oklahoma City, told Them via email that most of her coworkers are queer, with many of them relying on trans healthcare benefits.

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[luvallpeeps]

1. Well that's telling.

So as long as we don’t have to be fair, we’ll pretend to be fair?😖😵‍💫Alrighty then….I guess.

[Deuxcents]

2. I should think it's unconstitutional..

Can’t discriminate for this so lawyers will be hired

[MichMan]

3. Aren't all compensation and benefits renegotiated as part of the union contract?

[carpetbagger]

4. Yes, if the company makes that a negotiating point.

So Starbucks is saying they will use this tool.

[MichMan]

5. I worked at a company that was going through a union certification

Some employers believed that the pre union benefits all carried over and could only be negotiated better than they were. We were informed that any new contract would be negotiable from the start and nothing was already predetermined

[vercetti2021]

6. Wow

Never will I EVER step foot or give money to this company again. I'll be going to local coffee shops only from this point on. Fuck you transphobic Starbucks.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

7. I've never been a fan of Starbucks

I don't care for their overpriced, burnt tasting coffee in the first place. But this? This definitely cements the fact I'll never step foot in one of their shops or give them another penny.

Union busting is bad enough... But you're going to put us on the hot seat and the chopping block in the name of union busting? Your company really is ran by a bunch of sick fucks.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I don't drink coffee, but all my brothers do and I usually get them a gift card.

Not anymore.

This is just another company putting profit over people all the while pretending to be "for the little guy."

[IngridsLittleAngel]

9. I haven't drank coffee in years

I gave up on Starbucks even before that, though. I equally disliked their prices and the coffee tasting overly-roasted.

Good call on not even buying or giving their gift cards anymore after this, too. This announcement from them is repulsive. Being anti-union is bad enough. But using trans rights to bludgeon potential unions is disgusting and inhumane.

They've never been "for the little guy" even though they've tried acting like it. Now, though, they don't even act it anymore. In one mere statement they've left no doubt how much they dislike unions and trans people.

After this, maybe they should change their name to Starbucks Covfefe?