Starbucks' Closing Of Stores Is 'Just The Beginning,' Says CEO (msn.com) On July 12, it was reported that Starbucks plans to permanently close 16 stores. The reason? Reported safety concerns in markets including Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, and Washington, D.C., according to The Wall Street Journal. The company says it became aware of safety issues in its stores after reading incident reports from employees, referred to as partners, who recalled members of the public using drugs in the coffee chain's bathrooms, as well as other disturbances. Starbucks told the Los Angeles Times that its six soon-to-close LA-area stores "have experienced a high volume of challenging incidents that make it unsafe to continue to operate," and it plans "to open new locations with safer conditions." Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently spoke to employees on the topic and suggested that more closures are on the way. Though Starbucks claims "employees' personal safety" is the main issue behind the closures, some partners are concerned that they're actually retaliation for unionization efforts, seeing as three of the stores were either unionized or planning to hold a vote soon. Twitter account Starbucks Worker Solidarity interviewed an employee of one of the soon-to-close locations, who called the move "an act of union busting" and said their store environment was "quiet" and not unsafe. Starbucks has denied any correlation. The company's website outlines a message to its partners, outlining a list of ways it will combat safety issues within stores. The list includes safety training for all stores and also revealed that locations can be equipped with new alarm systems and bathroom occupancy sensors. Considering Schultz's remarks, though, the safety measures will not curtail more closures on the horizon. Well, most of the cities named are in the news a lot for drugs and other crimes, can't blame them
I drink my coffee black. Starbucks makes there coffee strong and bitter and it tastes almost burnt. I was told they do this because it makes a better base for their Carmel macchiato nonsense. When I suggested they could make two coffees one for people who wanted coffee and another for people who wanted dessert all I got was dumb stares.
Yep. Over roasting (burning) is intentional. I only drink them when traveling at this point. Locally I barely touch them.
What do unions do again? I seem to have forgotten their need and significance in this country, lately, that is free of legalized child labor and other bad employers sweat-shop practices... Oh yes, their union labor leaders give massive amounts of cash to the Democrat Party.
Whatever unions do or don’t do, or whether you feel they are outdated, workers have a right to try to unionize..
Used to buy local but got turned onto Black Rifle coffee. Their shipping sucks but I grind and brew at home and their dark roast (Blackbeard's Delight) is delish!!!!!
Oops. Of course, Alabama does have child labor laws (at least on the books, if not enforced). I wonder what their laws concerning unions look like.* Do you think a fine (if it's even issued) will come close to the amount of money they saved in labor costs by using children? ** *Rhetorical. I actually don't as I am sure Alabama is not friendly to unions, even if they may have protected some children in this case. ** Also rhetorical. I'm sure that the fine + campaign donations < paying for legal labor or they wouldn't have done it.
Yeah, safety appears to be an easy excuse to close high overhead stores while trying to limit investor reaction. Look where in LA those stores are being closed, for example. Santa Monica. West Hollywood. Inside a doubletree hotel. Expensive real estate but hardly high crime areas.
