Starbucks Korea: Employee protesters reject assistance from labor union groups

Starbucks Korea’s employees and baristas have staged a protest due to excessive workload. The demonstration was held late last week, and the workers complained of having too much work due to the coffee chain’s marketing events.

Yonhap News Agency reported that the employees of Starbucks Korea hired two trucks to drive around Seoul, and these carried signs that called for better work conditions in their workplace. This was said to be the very first employee protest that stemmed from the company’s events for its 50th-anniversary celebration last month.

The event where Starbucks Korea offered limited edition reusable cups drew in a massive number of customers, and this sudden surge took the toll on most employees. They explained that frequent marketing events and the shortage of staff made their work really exhausting.

Now, a labor union in South Korea has offered to help them with their complaints against the coffee chain. However, according to The Korea Times, the employees of Starbucks Korea turned down assistance from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The move was said to have made it clear that the workers do not want any intervention from one of the country’s major labor groups.

“This is our official response. We do not want the KCTU to intervene in our protest,” the leader of the protest was said to have posted on the Blind app in response to KCTU’s offer to help. “We do not need your help as we are not a union.”

The Blind app is an anonymous online community forum app where verified employees discuss issues related to the companies they work in. Workers in the same industry communicate there anonymously. It was added that the employee also asked the KCTU to stop any attempt to gain benefit by using the Starbucks Korea employees’ protest.

The protesters’ response came after the KTCU released a statement on Oct. 5 stating its recommendation for the employees to form a labor union. The group went on to say that it would be supporting them any time if they decided to.

Meanwhile, following the protest, Starbucks Korea decided to postpone its annual marketing event. The Korea Herald reported that this year’s “e-frequency” reward program where customers collected stickers to claim free drinks or diaries was moved to another date.

“In light of concerns brought forward, we are postponing our e-frequency winter promotion until October 28,” the coffee chain told The Korea Herald. “In advance of the promotion, we will be revisiting our operational procedures around actions to be taken e.g. partner staffing, store experience.”