Starbucks employees in New York City have filed an additional 32 complaints claiming the company broke the city’s labor violations.
NYC’s Fair Workweek law mandates regular schedules, 14 days’ notice of their scheduled hours, and extra compensation for shift changes.
Starbucks baristas in the city have hit back at the coffee giant’s scheduling practices by lodging nearly 90 complaints since February.
Read More: Starbucks Workers Hold Huge Strike On Red Cup Day
This coincides with a historic strike by baristas at more than 200 locations nationwide.
It’s the second time they targeted the company’s busy Red Cup promotion day for the strike.
Red Cup Day is an annual event celebrating the holiday season.
Despite Starbucks’ claims to invest significant resources to align with the law, workers continue challenging the company’s adherence.
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Workers battle severe understaffing
The national strike, organized by Starbucks Workers United, is over severe understaffing, particularly on promotional days.
The union calls for the suspension of mobile ordering during such events.
Mobile ordering has become integral to Starbucks’ business, constituting a third of the company’s sales in the latest quarter.
However, workers argue that the convenience for customers places undue pressure on baristas, especially during high-traffic events with discounts or freebies.
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Despite ongoing efforts to unionize, with over 360 locations participating, collective bargaining agreements remain elusive.
Starbucks says it’s working to improve working conditions, citing plans to automate mundane tasks.
The company also promised a minimum three percent wage increase for employees at the beginning of the next year.
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The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection had previously sued Starbucks in 2022 for firing a barista involved in union organizing.
The department alleged his dismissal violated the “just cause” provision of the law.
Starbucks could face significant penalties if proven, drawing parallels to Chipotle’s $20 million settlement for Fair Workweek violations last year.
