Over 2,000 Starbucks baristas across 120 U.S. stores have staged a strike since Sunday in response to the company’s newly implemented dress code, according to Starbucks Workers United, the union representing many of the coffee chain’s U.S. employees. The updated policy, which took effect Monday, requires baristas to wear solid black shirts paired with khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms, limiting the variety of dark colors and patterns previously allowed under the old dress code.

Starbucks says the new uniform rules aim to make its iconic green aprons more visually prominent and to foster a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere in stores. However, the union argues that the dress code change should have been negotiated through collective bargaining, criticizing the company for ignoring employee input. Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Maryland, voiced frustration, saying customers care more about service speed than employee attire, especially when wait times are long.

The union also highlighted a contradiction in Starbucks’ internal practices, noting that the company continues to sell branded clothing styles employees are now prohibited from wearing on the job. Starbucks responded by offering two free black T-shirts to employees to help ease the transition.

By Wednesday, around 1,000 workers had walked out at 75 stores, although Starbucks downplayed the impact, stating that the majority of its 10,000 U.S. company-operated stores remain open and serving customers. The company urged the union to focus on negotiating rather than protesting, emphasizing ongoing efforts to keep stores operational.

Since 2021, Starbucks Workers United has been organizing union efforts within the company, but despite returning to negotiations in February 2024, no contract has been finalized. This week, the union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing Starbucks of failing to bargain in good faith over the dress code changes.