Starbucks on Strike: 1000+ Employees Walkout Over Clothes

The last time I went to Starbucks the word “woke” wasn’t even in our vocabulary.

I don’t think I’ve missed out on much by not going there.

Except for the fact that I could’ve seen the baristas wearing a plaid shirt under their aprons, and maybe a khaki colored t-shirt.

Well, those wild and reckless days are over!

Starbucks is bringing down the hammer and making their employees endure needless hardship by….making them all wear a work uniform. Who does that? Except for just about every company out there.

This was just too much for the safe-space enthusiasts to endure.

So they united and are now protesting because they can’t “express themselves”.

Hundreds of Starbucks staff have walked out of over 50 stores to protest the company's new dress code, which went into effect earlier this week. pic.twitter.com/SvxbogLN1X

— Revamped | Career & Workplace Development (@RevampedCP) May 14, 2025

Independence Journal Review reports on this horrific tale:

The union representing Starbucks workers announced Wednesday that more than 1,000 Starbucks baristas are going on strike at 75 different locations across the U.S.

According to the Associated Press, the strike is in response to a new company dress code, which will put limits on what a barista is able to wear under their green aprons beginning Monday.

Employees at company-operated and licensed store in the U.S. and Canada will be required to only wear a solid black shirt, and khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms.

Under the old dress code, baristas had more flexibility to wear dark shades and patterned shirts. Starbucks stated that its updated guidelines aim to highlight the iconic green aprons, fostering a stronger sense of familiarity and warmth for customers while enhancing the welcoming atmosphere in its stores.

Starbucks Workers United, the union representing employees at 570 of the company’s 10,000 corporate-owned U.S. stores, argued that the dress code should be negotiated through collective bargaining.

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Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Hanover, Maryland, said Starbucks has “lost its way.”

“Instead of listening to baristas who make the Starbucks experience what it is, they are focused on all the wrong things, like implementing a restrictive new dress code,” Summers said. “Customers don’t care what color our clothes are when they’re waiting 30 minutes for a latte.”

I started circling everything wrong with their clothes in this pic, then I realized I just need to circle the whole pic. Also, all those skinny jeans and shorts were hurting my eyes.

When will this end?

What’s next? Not letting them wear nose rings?

I need to take a break. This story is just too much for me right now. I’ll be in my safe space if anyone needs me.

I’ll let the bearded lady take it from here. (I think she’s a she?)

These clowns 🤡 are complaining that Starbucks is trying to enforce a dress code! 🤣

What did they expect when they hired people like this?! 🤦‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/mSNpKt5gCy

— James Pleickhardt (@JamesPleickhar2) April 30, 2025

Gen Z baristas at Starbucks are pushing back against the updated dress code, saying it limits their ability to express themselves at work.pic.twitter.com/KVl0KUyPHD

— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) May 6, 2025

It’s a return to professionalism and they don’t like it.

“The new Starbucks dress code is the sign that we are moving into a conservative country”

Oh no!! They have to dress professionally now!! 😱😱

How will these narcissists be able to ✨express✨ themselves now?!? pic.twitter.com/m9f4IXvUxV

— Meme’nOnLibs (@MemeNonLibs) April 17, 2025