Starbucks baristas’ ‘strike before Christmas’ has reached hundreds of U.S. stores
The strike began Friday in Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago and has since expanded to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other cities.
2 months ago
Nestlé says it is recalling nearly half a million Starbucks mugs that were sold recently after at least a dozen people suffered injuries including burns or cuts while using the product. Shown here is a Starbucks location in Havertown, Pa. (Matt Rourke/AP)
Starbucks has introduced a policy that will require people to make a purchase if they want to hang out in their cafes or use the restroom. It’s part of a strategy that the new CEO hopes customers will welcome at a time of declining profits.
The chain says its new code of conduct “is something most retailers have and is designed to provide clarity that our spaces — including our cafes, patios and restrooms — are for use by customers and partners.”
It will no doubt come as a hurdle for people who may need to rely on public bathrooms more heavily than others, like those with special medical needs or pregnant people. This has been a longstanding issue for people in the U.S., and has inspired entire Instagram accounts to help people find accessible bathrooms in New York City.
Starbucks leaders say they want the coffeehouse to be a “third place” — not work, not home — where people can meet and construct a sense of community. Americans have seen a decline in these spaces over the years, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. And as WBUR reported last year, rebuilding them is essential to our wellbeing and happiness.