Starbucks union boasts they closed 21 locations last weekend in response to alleged LGBTQ pride decoration ban

The dispute began when Starbucks (SBUX) Workers United, a union representing organized stores, claimed last week that the coffee giant has decided to restrict stores from displaying pride decorations, alleging the company is demonstrating a "hypocritical treatment of LGBTQIA+ workers."

Starbucks has since denied the union's claim, stating that, "There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for US Pride month in June." The company's statement failed to reach or convince its unionized employees, who are now striking over this matter at 150 of its stores across the United States.

Starbucks Workers United announced in a tweet that about 3,500 employees "will be on strike over the course of the next week." The strike kicked off on Friday, prompting 21 stores to close over the weekend, including the company's flagship Reserve Roastery in Seattle, according to the Washington Post.

Starbucks said it is unaware of any of its stores banning pride decorations and pointed out that its stores across the US have been sharing their pride decorations on social media. The coffee giant explained that company policy allows store leaders to decorate stores as they wish for heritage months, including LGBTQ+ pride month, as long as stores adhere to safety guidelines, CNN reports.

"We unwaveringly support the LGBTQIA2+ community. There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for US Pride month in June," a Starbucks spokesperson said.

However, Starbucks Workers United said on Twitter that based on internal documents and testimonies from store managers, Starbucks' "own responses have not been consistent." The stores accused of banning pride decorations are in conservative states such as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.

The union blamed the current boycotts across the US against Target and Bud Light on certain Starbucks locations allegedly banning pride decorations.

While managers may have decided to limit pride decorations at their locations, Starbucks corporate has not changed its policy and said that "We're deeply concerned by false information that is being spread."

On Friday, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan sent a letter to employees that notes a pride flag is currently flying over the company’s headquarters in Seattle.

"We want to be crystal clear: Starbucks has been and will continue to be at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community, and we will not waver in that commitment," Narasimhan said, according to the Washington Post. "As such, we strongly disapprove of any person or group, seeking to use our partners' cultural and heritage celebrations to create harm or flagrantly advance misinformation for self-interested goals."

Since 2021, at least 319 of Starbucks' 9,265 US stores have voted to unionize.