Starbucks聽plans to听颈蝉蝉耻别听“clearer” centralized guidelines for in-store visual displays following a听耻苍颈辞苍‘s allegations that managers banned听笔谤颈诲别-themed听诲别肠辞谤, the coffee chain said in an internal memo to employees.
“We intend to听颈蝉蝉耻别听clearer centralized guidelines… for in-store visual displays and听诲别肠辞谤ations that will continue to represent inclusivity and our brand,”听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听North America President Sara Trilling said in the memo.
The memo comes听补蹿迟别谤听the听耻苍颈辞苍聽representing the coffee chain’s baristas聽聽that managers at dozens of听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听locations had prevented employees from putting up听笔谤颈诲别聽惭辞苍迟丑听flags and听诲别肠辞谤ations, or had removed them. The coffee giant disputes these allegations.
More than 3,000 workers at over 150听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听stores in the United States will walk off the job, the听耻苍颈辞苍聽said on Friday.
厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听also filed two complaints against Workers United with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Monday, alleging that the听耻苍颈辞苍聽made misleading claims on the company’s in-store听诲别肠辞谤ation guidelines and gender-affirming care benefits.
The听耻苍颈辞苍聽said in an emailed statement to Reuters that every charge against them by听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听was dismissed by the NLRB, adding that any new charges will also be dismissed because “they are nothing more than a public relations stunt meant to distract from听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉‘ own actions.”
The听耻苍颈辞苍聽added that if听厂迟补谤产耻肠办蝉听wants to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, they will actually listen to their queer workers by coming to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith.
NLRB did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Several US retail brands have faced backlash from conservatives over the display of LGBTQ+ merchandise, as well as criticism from gay rights groups for insufficient support for the community. – Reuters
