Here’s why some Starbucks coffee lovers in Bellingham didn’t get a Red Cup
Dozens of Starbucks workers and other union employees picketed at three of the specialty coffee chain’s Bellingham-area locations where union members are seeking contracts.
Their strike Thursday, Nov. 17, was on Red Cup Day, a nationwide holiday promotion that offers a free collectible drink container.
“It’s our busiest day of the year,” said Shannon Butler, who was organizing a picket line outside the Starbucks location in the Sehome Village shopping center at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Starbucks employees were joined by about 40 other local union members representing firefighters, health care and supermarket workers and others who turned out in solidarity.
Butler, a barista at the Starbucks’ location at Iowa and King streets, told The Bellingham Herald that company officials have walked away from contract talks and have refused demands to hire more employees that would ease their fast-paced working conditions.
Employees are expected to process a drive-through customer’s drink order in 45 seconds or less, Butler said.
“We’re running with just not enough people on the floor,” Butler said.
As she spoke, cars drove past and honked their horns in approval, and several drivers turned away from the store’s parking lot after seeing the pickets.
Signs read “Pumpkin spice and workers rights,” “All I want for Christmas is a contract,” and “Union busting is naughty, not nice.”
Workers picketed the store’s Cordata Center location earlier Thursday as pre-dawn temperatures hovered above freezing, and then planned to move to the store at Iowa and King, Butler said.
Websites for online ordering were showing a “mobile order unavailable” notice early Thursday for the Sehome, Cordata and Iowa-King stores.
Phones went unanswered at all three locations targeted by the job action.
Employees at other Starbucks locations in the Bellingham area were swamped with customers, however, said Taylor Zodrow, who answered the phone at the West Bakerview Road store.
“We’re definitely feeling it here,” Zodrow told The Herald.
