Barista blubbering was of little concern to Starbucks as the coffee company served up a venti-sized reality check about the “effort” expended in striking against a new dress code.
Like Colin Kaepernick taking a knee, coffee pourers across the country insinuated themselves at the forefront of rights activism over not being able to express themselves at work. Unfortunately for those lamenting about not being “asked for a new dress code,” social media wasn’t alone in roasting the unionized baristas about the way the world works.
In one video circulating online, a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Starbucks employee, whom Lancaster Online reported previously participated in a protest over stores looking to extend operating hours, lamented, “We’re out on strike today because Starbucks is trying to implement a new dress code. No one ever asked for a new dress code. They just, they updated a dress code recently … They keep trying to make all these changes in union stores, and it’s illegal.”
Mask wearing Starbucks worker explains why she is going on strike.
“We’re out on strike today because Starbucks is trying to implement a new dress code. No one ever asked for a new dress code.” pic.twitter.com/HCjtCQq5S9
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 17, 2025
According to NBC News, over 2,000 baristas employed at 120 U.S. locations hit the picket line to protest as they were being provided two new black shirts to comply with the dress code requirements, pairing a plain top with black or blue denim or khaki bottoms.
In response to the paltry turnout when considering Starbucks owns roughly 10,000 locations, the company called out the protesters by stating, “It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table that they’re putting into protesting wearing black shirts to work.”
“More than 99% of our stores are open today, serving customers — and have been all week,” added the company in bringing perspective to the employees.
As brutal as the reality check from Starbucks was, the whining escalated to outright tantrums from the entry-level workforce, but it didn’t match the scathing criticism on social media.
On top of the fact that the protester was wearing a mask more than five years removed from the initiation of draconian policies that had forced such behavior, reactions online couldn’t help but point out the inanity of protesting a uniform dress code by assembling with one’s peers wearing matching t-shirts.
“So, these baristas who are all wearing the same shirts, in order to protest having to wear the same shirts?” read a post followed by, “So, from the comments I gather that these baristas pay to be in the union (from where they got those black uniform shirts, to protest having to wear uniform black tops), and their main complaint against the uniform black tops is that they do not have any money for new tops. Why are they paying to be in a union?! I love this story SO MUCH!”
Meanwhile, others gave a quick shoutout to how expectations in society set “the bar above pajama day.”
So, from the comments I gather that these baristas pay to be in the union (from where they got those black uniform shirts, to protest having to wear uniform black tops), and their main complaint against the uniform black tops is that they do not have any money for new tops. Why…
— gerbil sauvage (@gerbilsauvage) May 18, 2025
Imagine applying for a job, getting hired, and then being shocked, shocked, that they want you to wear clothes that don’t look like you crawled out of a drum circle. Starbucks didn’t change the law, they just raised the bar above pajama day.
— The Undercurrent (@NotTheirScript) May 18, 2025
Lol. She expects us to believe the specific baristas we’re seeing in these strike videos don’t own black clothes, and had to buy new? These Antifa baristas? Don’t own black? Cool.
— Rikvidr (@rikvidr4) May 18, 2025
This is an outrage! What’s next, mandatory showers??
— Steven Steele (@MrStevenSteele) May 17, 2025
Employees don’t dictate the rules at work. That would be the employer. I blame public schools for this.
— Jimmy™ (@jimomics) May 17, 2025
They really do think “illegal” means “I don’t like it,” don’t they?
— 1000HolyPlaces⛪️ (@1000HolyPlaces) May 18, 2025
First, I feel fairly certain that most Starbucks employees own black clothing. Second, nobody is forcing them to work there. Third, this is a great example of the consequences of “gentle parenting”. It starts with preschoolers telling adults, “You’re not the boss of me!” and ends…
— Beanie (@Beanie0597) May 18, 2025
Fire every single one of them. There’s plenty of people who will fill their jobs and understand work places, corporations, and any employer can implement a dress code.
— Brando (@jasbrando) May 18, 2025
Dear Starbucks Baristas,
Meet your replacements. They won’t worry about having to wear a uniform.
Plus they’ll be friendly and spell customer’s names correctly on their cups. pic.twitter.com/g4DO0HXgBo
— Jellenne (@jellen805) May 17, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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