Title: U.S. College Students Rally to Remove Starbucks from Campus Amid Labor Dispute
Subtitle: Protests held across 25 campuses nationwide demand contract negotiations for unionized baristas
Date: [Insert Date]
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Byline: [Insert Author Name]
Students at multiple universities across the United States are calling on their respective institutions to sever ties with Starbucks until the coffee giant addresses alleged labor practice concerns. Organizers orchestrated demonstrations at 25 campuses nationwide to express frustration over Starbucks’ failure to negotiate contracts with baristas who have unionized over the past two years.
One freshman at Georgetown University, Valli Pendyala, indicated that action was being taken to pressure the university into allowing its contract with Starbucks to expire due to claims of mistreatment towards its workers. However, Starbucks defended itself, stating its commitment to providing competitive pay and benefits for part-time employees and ongoing efforts to reach fair agreements for partners in stores with union representation. The company also pointed out that not all the campuses mentioned by Workers United, the union affiliated with the protests, reported any disruptions to their operations.
At New York University (NYU), students presented a petition with over 500 signatures, demanding the university cease selling Starbucks coffee until the company implements changes. In response, NYU affirmed that all employees at its Starbucks outlet have union representation and are covered by a collective bargaining agreement through its food services contractor, Chartwells.
Georgetown University commented it is closely monitoring the situation but clarified it has no direct contract with Starbucks. Instead, the university’s primary food service provider, Aramark, holds a license agreement with the coffee chain, and the dining employees at Leavey Center’s Starbucks location are represented by the union UNITE HERE.
As the labor dispute between Starbucks and the workers’ unions continues, students across the country have made their voices heard, urging their universities to take a stand in support of fair labor practices. With tensions mounting, it remains to be seen how these demonstrations will impact Starbucks and its relationships with college campuses moving forward.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the market impact will likely be limited. While there may be temporary disruptions at some campus locations, Starbucks is a large enough company to withstand the protests and maintain its overall market position. However, the company may face some reputational damage if the labor dispute continues to gain attention.
