Are dress codes worth striking over? Starbucks baristas seem to think so, with hundreds of workers going on strike since Sunday to protest the company’s new mandates. The union representing the workers confirmed the Starbucks protest, explaining the workers’ dissatisfaction with the new regulations on what workers can wear under their famed green aprons. Starbucks appears indifferent to the barista protests but workers are unwilling to back down either.
Under the previous dress code, baristas had permission to wear a wider range of clothing to work as long as their green aprons took center stage, but Starbucks recently introduced a more stringent policy to wear a solid black shirt and khaki, black or blue denim bottoms. The dress code was changed to make the baristas appear more warm and welcoming but workers are far from warming up to the dress code.
Starbucks baristas are striking over the new dress code, and more walkouts are expected in coming days. (Image: Pexels)
Starbucks Baristas Strike Over New Dress Code, Union Backs the Attempt
Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents baristas at more than 570 of Starbucks’ over 10,000 outlets in the US, confirmed that the Starbucks strike is taking place over the dress code. The barista strike in 2025, comes as a surprise for the company, but workers appear committed to the walkout. The protests have been linked to more than 50 US stores with hundreds of baristas participating, and this is expected to be only the start of the resistance.
On Monday, Starbucks put its new dress code policy into effect, expecting employees to follow along with the switch. Unfortunately, the decision was met with much resistance, with baristas extremely unhappy with the change. Previously, employees were still expected to dress according to Starbucks policy but they were allowed more freedom with dark-colored, patterned clothes.
Now, plain black shirts are to be a staple, with Starbucks certain that it would make a big difference to the customer experience, and would allow their green aprons to stand out. The change appears to be a part of new CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy, where he had earlier emphasized the importance of the green apron workers and their role in increasing foot traffic to stores.
What Do the Baristas Have to Say Over the Dress Code?
The resistance comes with union support, with the claim that the dress code should be a part of the collective bargaining rights of the workers. As a result, Starbucks is facing a dress code protest from its staff.
Participants of the Starbucks barista strike have been fairly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the more restrictive dress code. Many have berated the company for focusing on irrelevant parts of the customer experience and barista feedback, making changes where they aren’t necessary. They reiterated that customers didn’t care about the color of the barista’s shirt while they waited 30 minutes for a coffee.
The baristas have also been critical of Starbucks selling its own branded clothing to employees which they aren’t allowed to wear to work now. The company is reportedly giving employees two free black t-shirts to help them adhere to the code, but this does little to ease their irritation at the change.
How Did Starbucks Respond to the Protests?
According to the coffee chain, the barista strike at Starbucks has had a limited impact on its US stores. “Thousands of Starbucks partners came to work this week ready to serve their customers and communities,” the company said in a statement. “It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract.”
The company added that it has attempted to create “the best job in retail with a wage and benefits package that averages more than $30 per hour for hourly partners,” emphasizing that the union should return to finalizing a reasonable contract.
Despite Starbucks dismissing the matter, the union is unwilling to let the matter rest. The group is believed to have filed a complaint with the Nation Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over the company’s decision to skip bargaining over the dress code.
Are the Starbucks Barista Protests over Dress Code Warranted?
Many reading about Starbucks’ uniform strikes have criticized workers for making a big deal over the change when dress codes have always been the norm for most workplaces. Whether in corporate spaces or staffing a restaurant, workers are always expected to adhere to a dress code to maintain uniformity and professionalism while representing the organization’s brand.
Starbucks’ new dress code is simple and doesn’t require employees to spend excessively on a new wardrobe so the resistance from the baristas may feel excessive, but it’s important to also look at it from their perspective.
When sudden changes are made to company policy or culture, especially when the change is unnecessary, it can be frustrating for workers. Most come into work professionally dressed, but enforcing a code automatically adds another avenue for criticism and consequences.
It is also likely that the frustration doesn’t just stem from the dress code but the fact that Starbucks is unwilling to listen to employees about how they feel. Employees would prefer for the company to make more changes elsewhere, but those concerns are going unheard despite Starbucks’ claims that these green apron workers are the real faces of the brand.
The Union’s Role in the Starbucks Barista Strike
With the Starbucks barista strike, there is also the added layer of union representation and the importance of treating every change as a matter worth negotiating first. It is evident that the union feels snubbed by Starbucks, and is wary that permitting one unwanted change will mean opening the floodgates for a wave of others.
The dress code is also allegedly different from the agreement that had been reached between the union and employer during negotiations, according to Bloomberg. This is enough reason for the union to see this as Starbucks being dismissive of what was discussed. When negotiations on wages and benefits are ongoing, adding further expenses to employee responsibilities is not the ideal move.
Starbucks’ dress code does not improve the working conditions at the organization or the experience of customers who come in. Users on Reddit appear to be in consensus that seeing what their baristas are wearing has rarely been of note to them or affected their experience of coming to the stores. The air of indifference among customers over this matter is enough reason for Starbucks to see that this is not an issue worth fighting over, but it appears unlikely that the organization will backtrack on the dress code.
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