By denying the Union’s reasonable request to treat Martin Luther King
Day like other federal holidays, Starbucks has once again proven its
commitment to diversity rings hollow. While Starbucks claims to 'embrace
diversity’, the company will not pay a time and half holiday premium
to baristas who work through Dr. King’s Day.

A hero to many Starbucks baristas and many Americans, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., stood courageously both for racial equality and for the
dignity of labor- a stand for which he paid with his life. The IWW
Starbucks Workers Union reaffirms and will continue to work vigorously
in support of our call for the world’s largest coffee chain to honor Dr.
King’s birthday on January 21st by paying baristas the holiday premium.
Local union members and baristas picketed local Starbucks on MLK Day.