Students at multiple U.S. colleges are advocating for their universities to sever ties with Starbucks until the coffee chain addresses concerns about its labor practices. The students are protesting Starbucks’ alleged failure to negotiate contracts with thousands of baristas who have unionized over the past two years.
Actions were planned at 25 campuses across the country to pressure Starbucks to change its approach. Valli Pendyala, a freshman at Georgetown University, expressed the sentiment of many student activists, stating that if Starbucks were a student, it would have been expelled by now for its perceived violations of rules.
Pendyala emphasized the need for Georgetown to let its contract with Starbucks expire and to hold the company accountable for its treatment of workers.
Starbucks Challenge (Credits: Washington Square News)
Starbucks, however, disputed the claim that it was obstructing bargaining efforts. The company emphasized its commitment to offering competitive pay, industry-leading benefits for part-time work, and ongoing efforts to negotiate fair contracts for unionized partners at stores.
Despite the students’ efforts, Starbucks downplayed the impact, noting that activities had not disrupted operations at all the campuses identified by the union, Workers United. Campus store operators also reported no disruptions.
At New York University, students delivered a petition urging the university to stop selling Starbucks coffee until the company changes its tactics.
The university stated that it would review the petition but clarified that all workers at the Starbucks affiliated with NYU are unionized employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Georgetown University, on the other hand, clarified that it does not have a direct contract with Starbucks. Aramark, the university’s primary food service provider, manages most of the retail and residential dining operations on campus, including the Starbucks location.
The university noted that Aramark’s dining employees are union-represented. Both universities indicated that they are closely examining the issue, reflecting the growing pressure on institutions to address concerns about labor practices and support workers’ rights.
