Starbucks union strikes in Cottonwood Heights, store closes for the day

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — Several union workers at the Starbucks in Cottonwood Heights didn’t show up for work Friday. The workers union said they were striking against under-staffing, intimidation, and retaliation by the company.

The store, at 7025 S Highland Drive had its drive-in only open until about midday, when the store closed for the day without notice.

The union organizer said the store was being run by employees from other stores. It’s unclear whether the store closed because of labor, or because there were about half a dozen workers outside picketing. Some shouting could be heard between a manager in the store and those picketing.

“This is just us finally saying this is enough,” said Jacob Lawson the union’s organizer.

Why Cottonwood Heights Starbucks employees are striking

Lawson alleges managers, in part, are under-scheduling employees during busy times.

“They’d have just two people here at the store having to deal with 50-60 people for that hour and they’re expected to close the store,” Lawson said.  “They expect us to do more, for less.”

He alleges one interim manager allocated too much vacation time at once and that they were retaliating for their efforts to unionize.

“The short scheduling, the intimidation, and just the behavior…this is us standing up saying saying we’re tired,” Lawson said.  “Especially because we’re short staffed…due to managements own errors.”

KSL Newsradio made contact with the store manager on scene Friday, who confirmed the store closed for the day, but wouldn’t comment further. A note posted to the door says the store will be open again on Saturday, July 16th.

Photo credit: Lindsay Aerts/KSL NewsRadio

Lawson said, however, union workers planned to strike “indefinitely.”

Related stories

• Cottonwood Heights Starbucks first to unionize in Utah
• A second Utah Starbucks announces plans to attempt to unionize

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