STARBUCKS RED CUP DAY IS NOT JOLLY

Who’s excited about their “free” red reusable cup from Starbucks this year?

Red Cup Day means the holiday season is among us so that means pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas at Starbucks. This time of year also means Starbucks partners keeping up with the busier lines, long hours, impatient customers, and potentially losing healthcare. This has led many Starbucks partners to participate in unionizing which jeopardizes Starbucks partners who utilize Starbucks health insurance plans.

Why unionize?

Starbucks partners had an increasingly larger number of people participating in their stores’ union during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The number of partners has decreased over the years because the Starbucks corporation has been strongly discouraging its partners since May 2022. For this year’s Red Cup Day 2023, partners around the US have been increasing the number of partners who join their Starbucks stores to unionize. This increase is important to know because may enjoy treating ourselves to a holiday Starbucks drink, but may not think of the treatment Starbucks partners are receiving during the season.

How do Red Cup Day and Starbucks partners unionizing relate to gendered health care?

Well, did you know that over ⅓ of Starbucks partners identify themselves in the LGBTQIA+ community?

Part of the reason for this large number is the fact that all full-time Starbucks partners are eligible for Starbucks healthcare insurance. One of the amazing benefits includes gender-affirming care and services for their full-time partners. One of these benefits is breast reduction and implant surgery. These procedures are very expensive so Starbucks providing affordable gender-affirming health care is a step forward. I am a previous Starbucks partner and one of my friends and co-partners at Starbucks brought these benefits to my attention. I was not a full-time partner nor am I someone who is seeking these benefits, but my previous co-partner who worked full-time utilized these benefits as a transwoman. She told me that the reason she remained a Starbucks partner was to reap the benefits of Starbucks healthcare insurance. Summer of 2023, she received transfeminine top surgery which was completely financially covered through being a full-time partner at Starbucks. This is great news, but, partners are in jeopardy of receiving gender-affirming care if they choose to unionize.

The increase of Starbucks partners participating in the union at their location is important to bring awareness too because some of these partners are in the battle of receiving fairer treatment and pay as a partner, but battling to keep their jobs to utilize Starbucks healthcare insurance if they choose. Starbucks provides these benefits for full-time partners, but a partner who chooses to unionize may not receive their required hours which jeopardizes their healthcare care. On top of fighting for a fairer salary, Starbucks withheld pay hikes from unionized workers which targets LGBTQIA+ partners even more because now they have to think about losing their job and the benefits that come with it.

How can we support Starbucks partners that choose to unionize and utilize Starbucks health care insurance?

This is an example of a “sip-in” advertisment and what to look for. Certain stores hold “sip-ins” to show support to Starbucks partners who choose to unionize. This is not at every location, but showing support for Starbucks employees is beneficial to their goal. Whether your local Starbucks participates in sip-ins, whether you are someone who goes to Starbucks or not, it is important to support employees who unionize to create better lives for themselves and employees in the future.

So, the next time you drink out of your red Starbucks cup, remember to be kind to your barista. Their job may depend on creating a more comfortable identity for themself, so appreciate the hard work that was put in by your baristas.