Starbucks employees in upstate New York who voted to unionize last month walked out on Wednesday, saying they lacked the staff and had health concerns with the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Six employees formed a picket line outside of the store located in Elmwood, in the Buffalo area. Three other employees remained inside the store to work, but they eventually closed for the day.
“Pressure to go to work is being put on many of us, when some of us already have other health issues. The company has again shown that they continue to put profits above people,” Starbucks Workers United said in a statement.
Kyli Hilaire, a 20-year-old barista at the store, said they were understaffed, had difficulties enforcing mask rules, and were all worried about their health due to rising COVID-19 cases in the area. More than 15,000 people had tested positive in Erie County over the last week, and it was the area's highest seven-day total to date.
“One of our requests was to close the store to let the outbreak of COVID run its course so we can return with a full staff rather than burning out the partners who are able to work,” Hilaire said. “They’re refusing to take the necessary precautions so our partners are not coming to work sick.”
She added that the walkout will last the rest of the week, while Starbucks said they haven't figured out if the store will stay open. About a third of the staff is unable to work due to illness or exposure to someone that tested positive.
An employee at the Elmwood store had tested positive earlier in the week, causing Starbucks regional leaders to meet with the union leaders on Tuesday night to discuss their concerns.
“We have met and exceeded all C.D.C. and expert guidelines for safety,” Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges said. “All leaders are empowered to make whatever changes make sense for their neighborhood, which includes shortening store hours or moving to 100 percent takeout only, which is the case in Buffalo.”
Employees said they will return to work when they feel it is safe and they are properly staffed, and that could be as early as Monday. The company also said this week that all of their workers in the United States have until Feb. 9 to be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.
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