Preston Road Starbucks patrons were treated to a shot of picketing and protesting with their orders Friday morning as baristas and allies voiced their desire for a fair contract.
Starbucks employees are pushing for a new deal that would address wages and working conditions, which they say are terrible.
“They have so many resources to make our workplace better, and they don’t,” said Rayne Mele, who works at the Preston location. “We are just trying to hold them accountable.”
Christopher Gomez, representing Teamsters Local 988, hopes more members of other labor groups come out to support the Starbucks employees.
“It’s important that labor show a united front. Solidarity is essential to us,” he said. “They are so close to winning a contract, and I know they are going to win it very soon, so we will be out here for as long as they need us to be.”
Zeeshan Hafeez, a Texas 33rd District candidate, noted that this was the 37th day the picketers were out there, and we supported their efforts.
“We need wages people can afford to live on, pay their rent, buy their groceries,” he said.
Hafeez also praised the Starbucks workers who have been on picket lines that addressed the current horrors going on in Gaza.
“These same workers are 100 percent aligned against the horrible genocide in Gaza. The workers are 100 percent opposed to what is happening in Palestine and are asking Starbucks as a corporation to take a more moral and principled stance. Not only are they fighting for their rights, but for people across the sea.”
To detractors who question whether protesting actually has any effect, Hafeez said it absolutely does.
“Historically in the labor movement, throughout American history, that is how change is made,” he said as passing motorists honked in support of the pickets gathered. “We have to keep protesting and giving our voice.”
Management at the location deferred to the corporate office for comment.