Popular coffee chain closes multiple Columbus locations for time being—here’s why
If you live in Columbus, chances are high that your go-to spot for a peppermint mocha is closed.
According to Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), a union movement of Starbucks employees over “unfair labor practices,” four Starbucks stores in Columbus are on strike and as a result, are temporarily closed until an agreement is reached:
- 1085 West Fifth Avenue
- 965 Bethel Road
- 1784 N High St, Ohio State University
- 1014 N High St, Short North
Multiple other Starbucks not listed by SBWU have had to also close due to worker shortages. Some Reddit users have noted that the coffee shop’s locations in the Central Ohio suburbs have also been closed for days or weeks, so it may be best to call your go-to spot to check if its open or not.
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“The company has tried to bring in other workers or managers to cover stores, but the majority of struck stores are closed or close early each day due to staffing shortages,” said a spokesperson from Starbucks Workers United.
More than 3,000 baristas in more than 100 U.S. cities are currently on strike, pushing for better pay and staffing, and for the company to resolve hundreds of unfair labor practice claims. Other countries have been protesting in solidarity with U.S. workers; in fact, demonstrations are set to take place in London, Norwich, and Glasgow, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Jaci Anderson, a spokesperson for Starbucks, told 614Now, “As we’ve said, 99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open and welcoming customers—including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened. Regardless of the union’s plans, we do not anticipate any meaningful disruption. When the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, we’re ready to talk. The facts are clear, Starbucks offers the best job in retail, with pay and benefits averaging $30 per hour for hourly partners. People choose to work here and stay here—our turnover is less than half the industry average, and we receive more than a million job applications every year.”
Fortunately, Central Ohio has a plethora of other local coffee shops to support!
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