ST PAUL, Minn. — Editor's note: The attached video first aired on April 28, 2022
Starbucks workers in St. Paul and St. Anthony will join employees across the country as they participate in a three-day strike, beginning Friday, Dec. 16.
Employees from the 3704 Silver Lake Road Northeast and the 300 Snelling Avenue South locations say they'll stand "in solidarity" with fellow Starbucks workers around the country as they strike against what they call unfair labor practices by the company, according to a press release from Starbucks Workers United.
Around 100 Starbucks locations across the U.S. are participating in the nationwide "Double Down Strike." Employees say they're protesting against Starbucks' "closure of union stores," as well as doubling down on their "demands for fair treatment."
Over 1,000 employees across the country previously staged a walk-out strike on Nov. 17, which was called the "Red Cup Rebellion."
The Snelling Avenue staff is part of Starbucks Workers United as of April 2022, a subsidiary of Service Employees International Union, best known for representing employees in the textiles and manufacturing industries. Now they're making inroads into restaurants and coffee shops.
Earlier this year, reports showed at least five Minnesota locations have either announced or filed to unionize, including the Starbucks location on the first floor of the Mall of America and the store at West 54th Street and South Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.
According to Starbucks Workers United, Starbucks has been issued more than 45 complaints entailing nearly 900 federal labor law violations by The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). They have been accused of continuing to union-bust, despite workers fighting for a contract and better treatment, the union said.
The strike in St. Paul is set to take place on Dec. 16 from 7-10 a.m. In St. Anthony, workers will strike for all three days: On Dec. 16 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.
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