Olympia Starbucks Employees Shut Down Store Monday to Protest Cut Hours, Firings

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The Cooper Point Village Starbucks was closed to customers on Monday, as employees, past and present, as well as supporters went on an unfair labor practice strike from 4:30 to 10 a.m.

The store was unmanned for the morning rush and it was closed for the rest of the day.

The strike comes after employees at the store at 315 Cooper Point Road NW voted 19-2 in favor of unionizing with Workers United, joining 70 other stores nationwide, according to a news release from the Olympia store workers.

Monday's strike was in response to cut hours and understaffing as well as the termination of three union organizers in the Pacific Northwest, according to the release.

Barista Madison Barriga said in an interview with The Olympian that the store has been so understaffed they've had to close the indoor lobby several times. And even though employees have gone on strike before, management still hasn't responded.



A member of Starbucks' corporate media relations team couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

Barriga said employees were joined by members of the Democratic Socialists of America and employees of The Evergreen State College. From here, employees are hoping to sit down with Starbucks corporate representatives and come to a bargaining agreement.

The Olympia demonstration is the first in a series of protests in the region, according to the news release. There will be more in Portland and Eugene, Oregon, as well as in Seattle.